《The Witch of the Castle of Glass [LitRPG, Progression, Romance]》 Chapter 1 - The Desperation of Gods "Desperate times call for desperate measures" Hippocrates ¡°Hurry, Thoth, or we''ll never make it,¡± Oracle shouted as they dashed through the labyrinthian marble hallways of Godhome. Twin metal keys, as old as memory and forged from creation itself, jangled in her hands. Her flowing white robe, embroidered with celestial moons and stars, danced around her slender frame as they rounded another corner. Oracle''s knees buckled from lack of use, and her companion had to steady her. Thoth, the God of Wisdom and Magic, had been her friend since the first days. She had spent months locked away in that tiny cage, dangling over the endless abyss, until he had manged to free her from captivity. ¡°I know that, Oracle,¡± Thoth replied, an edge of panic beneath his calm exterior. ¡°I know the consequences of getting caught. Having posession of those keys and freeing you from your imprisonment will be enough for our High Lord to strip me of my rank in the pantheon. And if we succeed? We''ll be lucky to see the next sunrise with our heads still attached.¡± Thoth stretched his neck uncomfortably at the thought. He liked his ibis head, slender and green with the most magnificent, elongated bill. ¡°Worse will befall us if we fail. You know that, Thoth," Oracle reminded him. "The madness spreads amongst the gods like fire now. Even the High Lord is infected. I''ve seen it Thoth - the madness in his eye. It is only a matter of time before he succumbs like the rest." Oracle pressed her rounded glasses, too large for her narrow face, back onto her nose with a gentle finger. ¡°The Thirteenth God Contest of homosapiens must be launched. They must have a victor. It is the only way for the Cycle to end and for the Nexus to reset. It is the only cure for the madness.¡± ¡°Except there have been a dozen God Contests already, Oracle. Pompeii, Machu Picchu, Skara Brae, Caral, Mesa Verde, to name just a few. Each ended with the complete annihilation of its human players. There isn''t an intelligent species in this universe where more than three God Contests were necessary. These humans are so flawed that it may be impossible for them to succeed." "Do you have a better idea?" Oracle asked, though she already knew the answer. "No," admitted Thoth as they dashed through the great library of God Home. He glanced around the innumerable volume of texts contained within. "I''ve spend the past hundred years in this very library, trying to come up with a different way. I failed." "You failed because it is not in our power to change. The Nexus - our creator, and the source of all life in the universe - requires the God Contest to have a victor before it can begin anew. It is the way it has always been, and it is the height of hubris to believe we can change that. You might as well try to turn back time itself." "Turning back time might just be easier. These humans are hopeless. You and your husband, Hephaestus, designed the twelve previous contests, and they failed them all. Why will this thirteenth time be any different? Especially since you had mere decades to design it after the last failure." Thoth tried to control the panic in his voice. His only hope was that his friend, the Goddess of Foresight and Prophecy, knew something he did not. The sounds of fighting erupted into the hallway, combatants flowing through the doors of the great banquet hall, laughing and screaming in their madness. God against god, holy and unholy powers crashing in chaotic rhythms without a care for the target of their fury. There was no purpose to their battle. It was the final stage of the madness. Their eyes were black, the madness inside them in control. Oracle and Thoth ducked through a thick oak door and out of sight. Thoth locked the door behind them. He had no desire to bear witness to the end of those he''d known for so long. He had watched who they were fade away over the decades as the madness stripped away who they were bit by bit. He knew it was only a matter of time before the madness grasped hold of him too. He was one of the lucky few remaining who was uninfected. They stayed there in silence until the sounds of battle passed, though Thoth did not know if it was because the Gods had momentarily regained their senses, or because they were all dead. He decided he would rather not know. Oracle was bent over at the waist, gasping for breath. Her hands unconsciously stroking the twin keys as if to assure herself they were still there. ¡°How do you know this time will be different?¡± Thoth asked, desperate to know. Oracle looked her oldest friend in the eye. ¡°Thoth, I don''t know if this time will be different. I am grasping at straws.¡± Thoth was flabbergasted. ¡°You¡­you don''t know? You don''t know?¡± Thoth whispered harshly, his panic overwhelming his senses. "I thought you had a plan, Oracle. The High Lord claimed you were imprisoned because you violated our sacred laws. Because you... because you and Hephaestus created an abomination within the heart of the Thirteenth God Contest. You wouldn''t have done that without a vision. Tell me what you have seen! I need to know.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± Oracle whispered, her head lowered. ¡°You can¡¯t what, Oracle?¡± Thoth accused as feelings of betrayal clouded his mind. ¡°I can¡¯t see what will happen. The High Lord stripped me of my powers while I was in that cage,¡± Oracle shouted, tears streaming down her face. Her fa?ade of control shattered in an instant. "And if I had a vision before that, he stole the knowledge along with my powers." Thoth gaped at his friend and saw what he should have seen before. Oracle didn''t have the youthful look of the eternal gods. She just had youth. Youth that would age and die, like so many mortal women before her. "I... I didn''t know he even had that power to do that," Thoth said, aghast. His heart ached for her, and anger at their High Lord replaced his sense of betrayal. No God had ever been stripped of their powers. "It... it doesn''t matter," Oracle muttered. "In a handful of years, every god will be dead of the madness, unless we succeed here today." ¡°Then let''s get moving, old friend, so your sacrifice isn''t in vain,¡± Thoth said, his voice like steel. Oracle had paid the ultimate price. What kind of God would he be if he did not risk the same? Oracle wiped away her tears - her first in a very long time - and gripped the keys with determination. It took hours to reach their destination as they wound their way through the labyrinthian passageways of God Home.The only sound they made was Oracle''s sigh of relief when they reached The Shrine - located at the heart of God Home, where the Nexus resided. The Nexus was here first, and God Home had been built around it. It was at the heart that each cycle began and concluded. Even the High Lord had no memory before the first cycle, when He had ascended. Oracle pressed on the enormous black and gold doors carved to resemble the night¡¯s sky. She winced at the loud creak as they slipped inside. Oracle breathed in the scent of the musty bookshelves as her eyes adjusted to the candlelight that illuminated the chestnut workbenches spread throughout the small chamber. The Shrine could have been mistaken for an old library or medieval workshop had it not been for the giant orb awash in a kaleidoscope of colors and hovering in the exact centre of the room. The Nexus - the source of life, the origin of the Cycle, and the heart of the God Contest. Oracle and Hephaestus had spent innumerable hours in the Shrine designing each God Contest down to its most intimate detail, yet even after countless millenium, she never failed to admire its beauty. Yet she knew something was off. Although beautiful, the Nexus¡¯ normal hum was strained and its colors dimmed. Oracle approached it hesitantly and gasped as she saw a thin, black tar begin to work its way under its surface.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°No,¡± she whispered in shock. ¡°Thoth, the madness has infected the Nexus." ¡°We can''t do anything about that, Oracle. We have to hurry.¡± Thoth urged, shutting the doors behind them and barring them. ¡°The High Lord has no doubt realized we stole the keys. He''ll know we intend to launch your prototype. We must do so before he arrives.¡± Oracle tore her gaze from the Nexus and rushed to the workbench that Hephaestus had occupied for the past four decades as he built thier last hope. She opened a drawer and removed its sole occupant - a cube of grey and gold that fit into the palm of her hand. It all came down to this. She removed the slip of paper that Hephaestus had attached to the cube and handed it to Thoth as she approached the control panel in front of the Nexus. ¡°The Thirteenth God Contest of Homosapien. Prototype: Artificial Intelligence Director. Warning - highly unstable technological and magical infusion. Likelihood of success: Negligible,¡± Thoth read aloud, heart dropping with every word. ¡°Oracle, what were you and Hephaestus doing here? Artificial intelligence? As in new life? The High Lord was right. That''s sacrilege.¡± ¡°Humans have failed twelve times, Thoth. We... I... believed that was due to their highly unpredictable nature. We needed something at its core that could adapt to their behaviors. So... we took a risk.¡± Oracle said as she choked back tears. choking back tears. ¡°The madness took my husband before I had finished designing the AI Director, so you''ll forgive me if I don''t accept his odds of success.¡± Oracle set the tiny cube into a perfectly shaped indentation on the Nexus¡¯s control panel. The panel lit up, its multicolored buttons illuminating the darkness around her. With practiced movements, she set the target location. ¡°Tokyo - an entire city in their country of Japan,¡± she said. ¡°Over fourteen million people. Hephaestus and I designed this Contest based on their ¡®role playing games¡¯, and our hope is a few amongst them will be skilled enough to succeed despite the odds.¡± She twisted a golden dial until she saw the destination reflected in the surface of the Nexus, viewed from high above the Earth. The display below the dial read ¡®Estimated players: 14,506,234.¡¯ She pulled out the twin keys. ¡°Final chance to back out, Thoth,¡± she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. ¡°I trust you, my friend,¡± Thoth said, taking one of the keys from her hand and moving to a keyhole at the far end of the panel while Oracle moved to its counterpart. "It''s not like we really have a choice, after all." The God Contest could only be launched with these two keys. Until now, they had never left the High Lord''s side. Under normal circumstances, the launch of a God Contest was an occasion of exeptional celebration. A full year of feasts would be held before the launch, kicking off the greatest entertainment the gods would experience. Their High Lord would give a speech about the role of the Gods in creating and guiding the species, and how the Contest was the culmination of their magnificent work. The final test of the species. A right of passage, before the Nexus began anew. Tonight, one god and a mortal woman, in the candle-lit darkness of an empty Shrine, would have to be enough fanfare. Oracle inserted her key. A chime sounded throughout the room, joined by a second as Thoth inserted his. ¡°On three,¡± Oracle said, bracing herself. ¡°One¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± counted Thoth, his knuckles white as he gripped the key. ¡°Three,¡± said a malevolent voice from the darkness as they turned their keys. The Nexus spun to life, rotating wildly. Lightning arched across the ceiling, shattering ancient wood and stone. Thoth and Oracle were flung backwards and struck the walls on opposite ends of the room. Through blurred vision, Oracle watched as the cube sunk beneath the surface of the panel, then rocketed into the centre of the Nexus. The cube sped towards its destination, through the Nexus'' multidimensional space towards the mortal realm. It was the image that would now be plastered on every viewing orb throughout God Home. A testament to the crime they had just committed. ¡°Well done, Oracle. You have saved me much trouble,¡± came the malevolent voice from the darkness. The figure that strode into the light had a skeletal grin that stretched thinly across his skull. His stomach shook with amusement, blood and rotting flesh striking the floor beneath him. As he approached the Nexus, the carrion creatures that accompanied him scattered to consume the pieces he left behind. ¡°How marvelous,¡± Cizen whispered, staring at the Nexus. His breath filled the room with the smell of death and decay. ¡°I must thank you, lesser gods. You saved me much trouble.¡± Cizen strolled casually over to the control panel. ¡°I take it the Contest cannot be recalled. It cannot be stopped?¡± ¡°Even the High Lord cannot stop it now,¡± Oracle said weakly, unable to get to her feet. The mutual hate between the God of Death and the former Goddess of Foresight and Prophesy lay thick in the air. Cizen scoffed at her struggle and rested his skeletal fingers on the golden dial that Oracle had used to select the Contest¡¯s destination. He twisted it, ever so slightly, and the location in the Nexus changed. Oracle¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°Cizen, you can''t. Please, don¡¯t¡­¡± she tried to shout, but she choked as she spit up blood. Something had ruptured inside her when she was thrown backwards, the first true pain she had felt in unknowable millennia. Cizen finished his adjustments and locked the destination into the system. The Nexus now showed the continent of North America, its target zone significantly diminished. The display below the dial now read ¡®Estimated players: 807¡¯. ¡°You really should have locked in the destination before you launched Oracle. I thought you were smarter than that,¡± Cizen said, walking towards her. Oracle felt the fear of mortal death grasp her heart tightly. Cizen grasped her chin gently between his skeletal fingers, eyeless gaze piercing hers. He clicked his teeth together. ¡°My dear, Oracle. Our Lord sure did a number on you. A pity. It truly is.¡± He released her chin and Oracle felt dead skin form where his touch had been. ¡°Leave her alone, Cizen,¡± Thoth demanded, struggling to his feet. Blood streaked from his beak, but he was still a God and would not be stopped so easily. ¡°I have done nothing, Thoth,¡± Cizen said, throwing up his hands dramatically to protest his innocence. ¡°All I did was change where the contest will occur on Earth. An old promise fulfilled. But if I were you, I would worry more about what will happen when our High Lord arrives. He''s mad, you know, and your betrayal may push him over the brink.¡± There was a thunderous crash from outside The Shrine, and suddenly the heft doors were blown inward, the bar across them shattered. ¡°Well, speak of the devil,¡± Cizen whispered to Thoth, grinning wickedly. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± the High Lord demanded, his voice booming across the chamber. Ancient books fell from their shelves and workbenches shook with the reverberations from his voice. Oracle raised her hands to her ears in pain. Her mortal ears not meant to hear such a voice. Thoth shook in place, his knees rattling in fear. ¡°My Lord, we¡­¡± He trailed off weakly. What could he say? He had freed Oracle, stolen the Nexus keys, and launched the forbidden thirteenth Contest. ¡°We did what had to be done,¡± he finished with a whisper. ¡°My Lord,¡± began Cizen, moving to the High Lord¡¯s side. ¡°I''m afraid I did not arrive in time to stop them. There is nothing we can do. We are in the hands of the humans now.¡± ¡°My Lord,¡± whispered Oracle, faintly. The High Lord¡¯s hand rose, and Oracle flew towards him from across the room. He held her aloft in mid-air. She dared the smallest glance at the first amongst them. Billowing light pouring from his being, but his eyes were clouded. She could the turmoil within as sanity fought a losing battle with madness. ¡°Which one holds his mind now?¡± thought Oracle. ¡°His strength or the madness?¡± ¡°Be silent, mortal,¡± demanded the High Lord. ¡°Was losing your immortality not enough punishment for you? You have doomed us all with your actions here today. The Thirteenth was a failed experiment - the folly of Hephaestus¡¯ madness. And of yours.¡± The High Lord¡¯s gaze shifted to Thoth, who was now kneeling and staring at the floor. ¡°I expected better from a God of Wisdom,¡± he judged, disappointed. ¡°What am I to do with you?¡± ¡°There is only one punishment grave enough, oh mightiest Lord,¡± said Cizen, whispering in his ear. ¡°Death? Yes, that would be fitting," the High Lord mused. "We''ve never executed a God before, though we''ve seen plenty of death in recent years. I wonder - would they go to your domain? Two fallen Gods to be your playthings?" ¡°As fascinating an experiment as that would be, my lord,¡± Cizen said with a grin. "I believe there is something more... entertaining... that you could do to punish them." Cizen''s eyes flashed towards the Nexus. The High Lord watched him skeptically, then grinned widely in understanding. Oracle saw the madness within Him take hold of his senses, and she shook in fear. ¡°You are right, Cizen. The Gods should be entertained. If this will be our last Cycle, our Last God Contest, then let''s make it one to remember.¡± The High Lord casually waved with his hand and Thoth was dragged across the Shrine until he hung beside Oracle, squirming. ¡°First, Thoth, for your betrayal, for freeing the criminal Oracle, and for stealing the Twin Keys of the Nexus, I take from you your godly might and immortality - mortal once more." A silvery thread materialized that connected Thoth¡¯s heart to the centre of the Nexus, and the High Lord broke it. Thoth¡¯s body erupted in pain, every fiber of his being on fire. He felt his ibis head warp and his elongated beak fall to the floor. His gorgeous feathers fell out one-by-one and turned to dust. The now mortal Thoth''s eyes were filled with tears, as all he felt was the emptiness inside - a constant reminder of what he had lost. Oracle¡¯s eyes shone with the deepest sympathy. She knew what he felt right now. What he would feel every second of every day of his short mortal life. ¡°And now, for both of you, who have doomed us all, I sentence you to the same fate you have bestowed upon your fellow mortals. I cast you into the Contest, that you may entertain us before you die.¡± Oracle¡¯s head shot up. ¡°No, please High Lord. The contest is already unstable. If we introduce another foreign element, we will risk everyone. We¡­¡± Oracle looked into his eyes, hoping to see reason. All she saw returned was the madness. The High Lord threw out his hands and Oracle and Thoth flew into the Nexus - into the multidimensional space, quickly headed towards the God Contest cube within. ¡°Now what, my Lord?¡± asked Cizen. ¡°The Contest has begun, Cizen,¡± the High Lord declared, now beaming, as if this were all as intended. ¡°That means entertainment and celebration of the highest order, does it not? Come, the Gods will know by now. We will prepare a feast and watch its commencement.¡± The High Lord strode from the Shrine, whistling. The sounds of battle echoed through the halls, but he did not break his stride. He did so love the Contests, even ones doomed to fail. Cizen looked back at the Nexus, his grin fading for the briefest of moments. "I''ve fulfilled my promise, old friend. Now, we wait." Cizen followed behind the High Lord, into the home of mad gods. Chapter 2 – Mildred Persephone Brown "People find it difficult to let go of their pain. They prefer familiar suffering because they fear the unknown." Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Monk Beep. Beep. Beep. Milly groaned as she opened her eyes and turned off her five-in-the-morning alarm with a sleepy swipe of her palm. The alarm clock, scavenged from a dumpster and on its last legs, like all her other belongings in her rundown bachelor apartment, gave its final, struggled ring before going silent. Each morning Milly wondered if this would be its last morning, yet the stubborn thing refused to quit. The notion that a discarded alarm clock could keep on ticking gave Milly the little bit of willpower she needed to keep getting out of bed each morning. She sat upright, her long black hair falling to the small of her back, tangled from the toss and turn of her night¡¯s sleep. It had not been a restful one. This time, her nightmares were filled with twisted memories of her third foster home, before Social Services had shut it down and her foster father had been arrested. Milly rubbed the scars on her wrists as she remembered her time there. She had been moved through four subsequent foster homes in the two years after it happened, only to run away when she was sixteen years old. She was not a difficult child. She just never seemed to fit in anywhere, and she was left behind. Yawning, she swung her legs off her too-small bed and onto the stained carpet below. She ignored the squelch of dampness as her feet touched its surface. She had developed a talent of ignoring life¡¯s minor discomforts in the three years since she had run away from the foster home. Things like soiled carpet, broken heating, and a diet consisting exclusively of ramen noodles, potatoes, and frozen peas were small discomforts, right? You keep telling yourself that, Milly. Maybe one day you''ll believe it. The truth was, she was little better off now than when she was in foster care. She had a job working at a call center downtown, where she earned minimum wage. It was enough to afford her slum apartment in the dangerous part of the city, her bus pass, and just enough food to keep her alive. She lived her life on autopilot. Wake up. Two-hour bus to work. Ten-hour shift. Two-hour bus back. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Over and over, with no escape and no point except to live to see the next day and do it all again. She grabbed her towel, quickly stripping off the nighty that was a size too small and walked the three steps to her tiny bathroom. The single ceiling light flickered, and she wondered whether it would actually turn on today. Like the alarm clock, it did its job, though it flickered every few seconds. The bathtub was rusted and the sink cracked, the latter covered over with a single piece of duct tape that the landlord had placed there six months ago. ¡°It¡¯s on my to-do list, Mildred,¡± he''d told her when she was brave enough to ask when it would be fixed. Mildred. She hated her name. She did not remember her parents. Her mother had died of an overdose when she was three and her father abandoned her the next day. Or he was arrested for her murder. No one had bothered to tell her, and she never really wanted to know. All she knew was they''d left her. Their only contribution to her life was her failed childhood, a failing adulthood, and her name. Mildred Persephone Brown. A name they must have thought up while in a drug addled stupor watching historical fiction. ¡°Your thoughts are growing dark again, Milly,¡± she told her reflection in the mirror. She opened her medicine cabinet, grabbed the bottle of anti-depressants, and swallowed one. She was supposed to be weaning herself off these, but today had not been a good start to the day. She stared at herself in the mirror as she felt the pill work its way down her throat. She was not an attractive woman in her own eyes. Her hair was plain and frayed. She did not have the luxury of facial cleansers or, sometimes, shampoo, which gave her skin and hair a greasy look. Her nose was a touch too broad and her chin a touch too flat. She was overweight, though it all carried in her legs and stomach. Not that anyone ever looks at me that way. Who would want to be with someone like me? Her hazel eyes, the only feature she liked about her body, reflected a sadness that had settled in long ago and never left. She took a quick shower, this time sparing a bit of shampoo, and tried to let her self-pity slide down the leaky drain with the rest of her filth. As always, it did not work. She brushed her teeth and gave her hair a quick comb to remove the worst of the tangles, then threw on the black hoodie with the broad front pocket and pentagram on the back that she wore everyday. She had been lucky enough to buy it for two dollars at the thrift store. The hoodie had become her safety blanket against the world. It was two sizes too large, which helped hide her weight, and the pentagram kept most people from talking to her. She always wore loose fitting clothing to hide her size, but the black hoodie did it particularly well. You¡¯d think that a diet of nothing except ramen, potatoes, and peas would make me skinny, but life could not even do me that favour. Her alarm went off again, this time warning her that the bus would arrive in a few moments. ¡°Shit!¡± she shouted, earning an angry yell through the paper-thin apartment walls she shared with her cranky neighbour. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Dee,¡± she whispered, wishing she hadn''t woke the old veteran. She''d get an earful from him when she got home. She rushed out the door, returning a few seconds later for her forgotten backpack, and ran for the bus stop. * * * Milly stared out at the scenery as her bus approached her work, located on the tenth floor of 541 Arlington Street. According to the advertisements for its many vacant floors, the complex was ¡®adjacent to the nice part of downtown¡¯. Milly took that to mean it was decidedly in the bad part of downtown. Built in the early 1990s by revolutionary designer and businessman Robert Castle, the four office towers were built into the shape of a castle, with glass walkways connecting each of the towers along the main floor and a large glass courtyard in the middle of the complex. The ¡®Castle of Glass¡¯, as it was called at the ribbon cutting ceremony, could have revitalized the nearby neighborhoods and businesses. Except shortly after it opened, Mr. Castle was arrested for tax evasion and fraud, having gambled away government financial advances, workers compensation payments, and staff pensions. The Castle of Glass was auctioned off to the highest bidder a year after opening and has gone through over two dozen owners since. Consequently, the Castle of Glass was falling apart. Its cracked glass panels only saw repairs when one reached lawsuit-level potential damage. The lobby floor was full of shattered tiles, and its single tree planted in the center had long since died. Every tenant willing to pay rent had been packed into Tower One, leaving the other three unheated and unrepaired. The only improvement the complex had seen in five years was the tiny shop in the lobby next to Tower One, where a young woman had, for a reason unknown to everyone, opened a coffee shop called Rain on My Parade.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Milly got off the bus and walked the two blocks to the tower, clutching her backpack close to her chest. She always came in through the northeast entrance, the closest to Tower 1, and headed straight to the elevator. She stole a look through the window of the coffee shop, watching the young woman with short brown hair that matched the color of her apron sweeping the floor and humming to herself. There were no customers. Milly felt sorry for her, but she did not have money to spend on coffee or tea. The elevator rang, gears grinding to a halt and doors opening with a screech. She stepped in, eyes flashing up to the safety sticker peeling off above the panel. ¡°Last inspected September 2009,¡± Milly read aloud as the doors closed with an equally ear-piercing screech. "That''s disheartening." Her eyes dropped from the safety sticker to the list of businesses and their assigned floors. Only the most desperate or cheapest companies came to the Castle of Glass. Government civil servants, the lowest in their complex government hierarchy, occupied floors two through four, their cheap rent part of the deal struck with Mr. Castle in exchange for tax breaks on the land back in the nineties. The government had made sure that agreement was honored by each subsequent owner. The next two floors were vacant. They had been vacant for years, and Milly didn''t think they''d be filled any time soon. Milly had once peeked inside in a moment of curiosity, but the emptiness and mildew made her quickly leave. Floors seven through nine were occupied by the headquarters of a start-up energy drink company, EnergyWave. Milly had heard they were doing decent business, until they''d been hit with a series of class action lawsuits for causing ¡®excessive heart palpitations¡¯. They''d given away free samples when they first moved into the building, and Milly''d noticed they had a warning on the bottle that it was ¡®not to be consumed by anyone over the age of sixty-five or with health difficulties¡¯. At least they added warnings. That makes them more honest than my company. Acicenter, Milly''s employer, was an insurance company that occupied floors ten through twelve. It was not a company you''d would find on any national ranking system. The CEO, Jacob Stone, did his best to avoid being on any list, including any government list. The call centre, where Milly worked, filled the tenth floor. Employees were crammed together in tiny, shared cubicles to maximize space. The only benefit were the big bay windows around the outside. Milly could look across four rows of cubicles towards the good part of downtown, its bright spires and lush parks reminding her that there were people out there who did not regularly contemplate whether the amount of people packed onto her floor could cause it to give way and crush the poor drones in EnergyWave¡¯s call centre beneath them. Naturally, with the exception of call center manager, Mr. Fredrickson, all upper managers had large offices on the eleventh and twelfth. They rarely ventured down to the tenth. Ok, so that''s one advantage to being on the tenth floor. Jacob Stone gives me the creeps. The floors above them, except for the vacant sixteenth floor penthouse, were occupied by a law firm. One of those that still ran three in the morning commercials on local television. ¡°Let Legal Eagles fly you to freedom! Caw Caw!¡± whispered Milly, having spent many late nights unable to sleep as she stared at her tiny television, screen fractured in the top left corner. ¡°It¡¯s not even the right bird call.¡± The elevator stopped at the tenth floor. She had arrived. Milly took a deep breath, hoisted her backpack up on her shoulders, and strode forward into the chaotic office that awaited her. * * * ¡°Acicentre, for all your insurance needs. How may I help you today?¡± Milly spoke into the phone for the twenty-third time that day, according to the productivity counter in the bottom left of her computer screen. God, I hate this job. But there''s not much out there for a high school dropout who had spent three months homeless on the streets and still dresses in hoodies. At least Acicentre had hired me. They don''t care what I wear, as long as I keep answering the phone. She forwarded the call to the appropriate agent, leaned back in her chair, and sighed. ¡°This job would be so much easier if no one called,¡± said Xavier beside her, completely serious. Xavier was the one positive in her life right now. He was a few years older than her, handsome in his own way and completely oblivious to it. As far as Milly could tell, Xavier was obsessed with two things in his life. Working out and playing video games. The former accentuated his handsomeness, his rippling muscles and broad shoulders enough to turn the eyes of most women and more men than Milly expected. Unfortunately for him, the latter obsession kept anyone but her from spending more than a minute in his company. ¡°Anyway, the key to that level map is to crouch behind the crates just outside the second spawn point. Everyone looks left first, which gives you that split second to shoot. They accuse me of spawn camping, but it is a legitimate strategy and it is not my fault if they cannot adapt to it. That¡¯s why I am one of the highest ranked on the server,¡± Xavier continued, picking up where he had left off when Milly got the call. Milly listened politely. She had no idea what a spawn point was, or why camping next to it was frowned upon. I thought this was a gun shooting game? Why were people camping? Maybe they were hunting wildlife. She didn''t really care. She just smiled and nodded, and that was enough for Xavier. In the six months since they''d started sharing cubicle space, video games were all that Xavier talked about - a never-ending barrage of the fine details of games of all types and his strategies for winning at each. He never asked about Milly''s life. He never asked about her past or her interests or even how her day was going. That suited Milly just fine. Her life was not worth recounting. Milly was not sure if Xavier was a friend. Their relationship was one-sided, but Milly had never had a friend before. So one day she had decided that Xavier was a friend within the three walls of their shared cubicle, which was enough to help Milly keep coming to work each day. Xavier¡¯s phone rang and he cut off his narration with a frown. He had been saying something about¡­fortnights? Milly had stopped paying attention again, simply nodding her head and letting her mind drift. Not that Xavier ever noticed. Xavier leaned forward with a sigh, until he read the caller ID. ¡°It¡¯s my guild," Xavier said excitedly. "Quick, go stand guard outside and tell me if Mr. Fredrickson comes this way. This is important. We are raiding the golden dragon queen tonight and we need to come up with a battle strategy.¡± Milly chuckled and did as she was instructed. She didn''t know what a guild was, but a month ago Xavier had started forwarding his personal calls to his work line, covering off his gaming needs and raising his productivity counter at the same time. It meant more customer calls went to Milly to manage, but she didn''t care enough to consider it an issue. ¡°Besides, there are benefits to standing guard,¡± she whispered, staring across the cubicle farm out the broad window that overlooked downtown. She watched the small kayaks paddle along the broad northern river that lazily wound its way through the city, and watched as an ambulance weaved its way though traffic. She stretched her arms towards the ceiling, cracking her back. Her hoodie rose up her stomach, showing bare skin, and she quickly pulled it down in a moment of panic, hoping no one had seen. Unfortunately, someone had. ¡°Careful there, Mil-dead,¡± sung Calista Gale, her long crimson ponytail swaying with her laugher. ¡°No one wants to glimpse your pale skin.¡± She pushed passed Milly, nudging Milly with her elbow on the way to the photocopier. Milly mumbled an apology. Calista¡¯s high heels clicked on the floor as her short skirt swayed with her hips. Milly¡¯s face glowed red from embarrassment and she ducked back into the cubicle just as Xavier finished his call. ¡°Skank used to tease me in high school,¡± Xavier said, having seen Calista walk by. ¡°Second string cheerleader, never good enough for prime time. Now she works in a call centre with the rest of us. Warms my heart to see the mighty fall.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you get her to stop bullying you?¡± Milly asked softly. ¡°Oh, she found someone weaker to bully and forgot about me. I guess that¡¯s why she bullies you.¡± Xavier said it with such casualness, as if it were simply a well-known fact, but his comment ran through her mind for the rest of the day. Xavier thought she was weak. She turned from him, stared at her phone, and quietly sobbed as Xavier recounted the appropriate min-maxing strategy in the latest JRPG, oblivious to her tears. * * * Milly arrived back at her rundown apartment well after the sun had set. She had spent the last two-hour bus ride home staring out the window as the neon lights passed her by. Another day alive and another day not lived. Another day put behind her in the unrelenting march towards oblivion. ¡°God Milly, stop being so melodramatic,¡± she scolded herself, as she threw her backpack into the corner of her apartment. ¡°I thought you left behind that ¡®life is pain¡¯ goth stuff when you dropped out of high school.¡± She looked down at her oversized black hoodie and gave a weak laugh. ¡°Well, maybe you didn¡¯t.¡± Milly ate a quick meal of baked potatoes and peas and crawled into bed. She wondered if tomorrow would be any different. She knew it wouldn''t be, as that required an effort and willingness to change that she could never manage. She drifted off to sleep, another day done, desperate for a better tomorrow. * * * The God Contest rocketed towards Earth, intent on its target, as Oracle and Thoth careened through the ether of the Nexus. Their minds were stretched thin and broken as memories were syphoned away, crystalized, and became imbedded in the fabric of the Contest. Oracle tried to hold tight to Thoth, but he was hurled away in the gale-force winds and lost to her sight. Her scream was drowned out in the annoucement that filled the ether. ¡°God Contest arriving at Destination. On target. Assimilating participants. The game begins in three¡­two¡­one.¡± Chapter 3 – The Storm "March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move towards perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life''s path." Kahlil Bibran, Poet Milly stood anxiously by the elevator, impatient for it to arrive. She kept her head down, backpack clutched to her chest, trying to look small and unassuming. The only other person waiting for the elevator was Calista, who was scrolling on her phone as she waited. Milly kept her head down and shoulders slouched, and focused on the rhythmic sweeping of the barista in the tiny coffee spot in the corner. Milly scuffed her foot on the dark grey tile, and winced as Calista looked up from her phone. ¡°Gods, Mil-dead. The hoodie again?¡± Calista uttered, glancing up from her phone. ¡°Do you even wash that thing? It''s starting to smell, and you have potato stains on the bottom¡±. Milly¡¯s knees shook as Calista approached her and grasped her hoodie between two fingers, rubbing the fabric. ¡°Yuck. Mil-dead, this is gross. Do yourself a favor. Splurge on clothes that would not be found in a fat man¡¯s wardrobe. You might look half-way presentable. Perhaps even cute, in a goth sort of way.¡± The elevator ding echoed across the lobby as it arrived, and Calista released Milly¡¯s hoodie. ¡°Well, put your game face on, Mid-dead,¡± she said sarcastically, stepping into the elevator. ¡°Another wonderful day at Acicentre.¡± Calista lifted her fingers to the edges of her mouth and stretched them upwards in an exaggerated smile. Milly just stood there, frozen in place like a deer in the headlights. Outside, a fog started to gather and the first droplets of rain fell against the lobby''s glass roof. The sound created an ominous tension that raised the hair on Milly¡¯s neck. Calita held the elevator door for Milly. ¡°Are you coming?¡± Milly stepped tentatively into the elevator beside Calista, head down and clutching her backpack as tightly as she could. Calista rolled her eyes, pressing the button for the tenth floor, and the doors shut just as the first flash of lightning illuminated the lobby and thunder rattled its glass. * * * The storm built exponentially over the next hour as rain cascaded down in a torrant against the glass and leaked through its cracks. The rumble of thunder shook the tower and lightning flashes caused the lights in the Acicenter call centre to flicker with each strike. It felt like the storm was right on top of them. ¡°Everyone stay calm,¡± Mr. Fredrickson announced as the windows visibly shook from the hurricane-strength winds. Their phones had gone dead, and cell phones had lost their signal. The fog was so dense that the city beyond the windows was no longer visible. ¡°I¡¯m sure this storm will pass us by. You are safe here.¡± His words of comfort were challenged by the storm. The largest lightning strike yet flashed, and the accompanying boom knocked pictures off the walls and books off shelves. The entire building rattled, and Milly felt the floor sway beneath her feet. Calista screamed, which triggered a wave of spreading panic amongst the employees despite Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s feeble attempts to maintain order. Another lightning bolt crackled outside, tracing along the fog like electricity through a circuit. Milly squeaked and ducked behind the false protection of her cubicle walls. The only thing that stopped her from joining the growing chorus of screams was the fear clenching at her throat. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± shouted Xavier, crouched beside her. ¡°The skies were clear less than an hour ago.¡± Milly could see his mind spinning, searching for answers and coming up empty. Another flash. It felt like the tower would collapse at any moment from the pressure of the storm. Milly put her head between her knees, rocking back and forth. ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to die. Please.¡± ¡°Knock it off, Milly,¡± Xavier demanded harshly, his own fear making his short temper even shorter. ¡°That¡¯s not helping.¡± He scoffed and ducked from the cubicle, headed for the window. Milly tried to beg him to stay, but she couldn¡¯t find her voice. Another crackle of lightning and boom of thunder, and this time Milly¡¯s monitor was knocked to the floor. The screen broke, leaving little shards of glass in the stained carpet. The lights flickered and finally died, leaving only blackness illuminated by rolling waves of lightning. Her coworkers abandoned any sense of bravery, and their shrieks echoed across the office. Milly sat in her cubicle, terrified, as she stared at her broken monitor. At least, it should have been broken. Only there were small, green words suddenly being typed against its black background. Is anyone there? Milly blinked. All she could see were those three little words, illuminated in the darkness. Three little words on a broken screen in a building without power. Milly crawled over to the monitor, grabbed the keyboard off her desk, and set it on her lap. Her hands shook with fear. She closed her eyes and took three deep breaths to calm her racing heart. She used the same technique she''d learned as a child, hidden in her closet to escape the drunken attention of her foster father, her heart beating so fast she was sure he would hear. Milly breathed deep and her fingers steadied. ¡°I am here,¡± she typed. She waited a few moments, and the terrified sounds of her coworkers faded into the background as she focused. Where is here? ¡°The Acicentre call centre. I¡¯m Milly. Can I help you?¡± Milly winced as she realized she''d typed the same generic customer greeting a thousand times before. Is that on Earth? ¡°What?¡± whispered Milly, confused. This must be one of the IT guys playing a practical joke on her in the middle of this chaos. Teasing the weird girl, just like Calista teases me. Normally, Milly would play the meek girl and simply ignore it, but the storm scared her down to her core and she had reached her breaking point. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but this is not funny,¡± she typed, underlining the final two words to emphasize her disdain. There was a long pause as Milly watched the broken screen. She was about to set the keyboard down, certain that the culprit had been put in his place, when the response came.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. My name is Oracle. Find me. Find my memories. They will help you survive. Milly did not respond.She threw down her keyboard in disgust, her anger keeping her fear at bay. Definitely a joke, and a cruel one at that. What could they possibly... Please forgive me. Milly didn''t have time to absorb the words. The lightning evolved into a non-stop cascade. The building shook without pause and Milly felt herself thrown to the side hard. Her head struck the side of her cubicle and she felt nauseous. She felt herself lose consciousness as the storm reached its climax. In her final moments before she blacked out she saw the monitor blink. Its message in green disappeared, and a new one in bright gold lettering took its place. The 13th God Contest has begun! * * * ¡°Get up, Mildred. Get up!¡± Milly opened her eyes, her head aching. The storm was gone and light once again poured in through the tower windows. The power was back on and, except for scattered belongings and the occasional busted monitor, the office was intact. Xavier grasped her arm, urging her to stand up. ¡°We need to get going. Hurry.¡± He''s excited. Why on earth is he excited? And why does that worry me so much? Milly glanced around the office. A group of her coworkers had gathered at the window, their confused murmurs growing louder with each moment that passed. There was palpable tension in the air, as if waiting for that single spark to reignite the chaos of the storm. ¡°Milly, I will leave you behind if you don''t get your ass moving. Now!¡± Xavier shouted, growing increasingly impatient. Milly blinked, and her eyes fell on her monitor shattered on the ground. The 13th God Contest has begun! Players, attend the lobby for orientation. Fight hard and die well. The message was on Xavier¡¯s monitor as well, and every other screen within her sight. Monitors, cell phones, televisions. Each displaying the ominous three lines. ¡°Xavier, what... what is going on?¡± she asked desperately, her voice weak. Her head was still fuzzy. This must all be a joke. It must be. Xavier hauled her to her feet and unceremoniously led her to the crowd gathered at the bay window, where their confused murmurs were quickly becoming cries of disbelief and terror. Milly released herself gently from Xavier¡¯s grasp and walked forward, until her nose squished against the glass. She couldn''t believe what she saw. The city was gone. Every tower, every road, every home, every person. Just gone. The Castle of Glass stood alone, every trace of civilization around them erased from existence. The view from the northern window was now a majestic mountain range stretching far into the distance, the peaks rising high above the tower. Magestic waterfalls flowed down the sides of their slopes, cascading rainbows into the air where they struck. Deep, broad valleys with rapidly flowing rivers spilled between the peaks, with great glaciers forming where the dense pine forest stopped. It was as if the Rocky Mountains had been delivered to their doorstep, only with exaggerated beauty woven into their rocky tapestry. As if they had been designed by an artist. It was too much for Milly to process, and she simply stared out the windows with the others in disbelief, mouth open but words failing to form. She unconsciously scratched at the glass, as if trying to peel away a sticker. A war of emotions was erupting inside her, and she did not know which would emerge victorious. Xavier grasped her hand firmly and led her away from the window, leaving a greasy smudge where her nose had been. The act broke the trance of the others at the window, and scared shouts began to spread throughout the office one by one. ¡°It¡¯s not just the mountains in the north,¡± Xavier said, surprisingly composed. ¡°Every cardinal direction has a different terrain. Look!¡± He led Milly quickly around the perimeter of the office, and Milly gasped as they passed quickly by each window. To the east stretched an immense ocean, its crystal blue waters dotted with an archipelago of islands. A white sand beach reached from the water to the edge of the Castle of Glass and palm trees dotted the landscape. Milly touched the glass, feeling the heat that was emanating from outside. ¡°It¡¯s warm,¡± she whispered in disbelief. ¡°Yes, it is. You¡¯ll need to find something other than your hoodie to wear,¡± responded Xavier, continuing to pull her along. Did... Did Xavier just make a joke? No, he¡¯s completely serious. Just what is going on here? Xavier led her to the south of the building, where a thick rainforest emerged from where the beach stopped. The canopy of massive trees stretched far above their tenth-floor window. It was raining outside, the soft patter of rain on glass filling the south side with an eerie gentleness that stood in contrast to the panic around them. It was humid over here, and Milly could smell the scent of moisture and plant-life that leaked through the cracks in the glass. As they rounded the final corner, Mr. Fredrickson came into view. He was shuffling people away from the windows towards the boardroom in the centre of the office. ¡°You two! Milby and Zachary," he called to them. "Into the boardroom with everyone else. Follow my directions and¡­¡± Milly was shocked as Xavier shoved Mr. Fredrickson backwards, causing him to lose his balance and stumble into a cubicle wall. Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s shocked expression stole his false bravado. ¡°Fuck off, Fredrickson,¡± Xavier spat with venom. ¡°And learn our fucking names.¡± Xavier pulled Milly past their manager, and they left Mr. Fredrickson behind without a second glance. ¡°Xavier, what was that?¡± Milly asked, shocked. Xavier led them to the elevators and pressed the down button. Milly glanced out the window to the west as she waited for Xavier to answer. Great plains, marked by tall grasses, gentle hills and patches willows, stretched into the distance. Is that a herd of buffalo? The tower was at the center of the four terrains, each stretching out far into the distance and utterly unique. The boundaries between each terrain were stark, as if separated by an invisible wall. It was all too much for Milly to take. The elevator arrived and Xavier pulled her inside. He pressed the button for the lobby. The doors closed with their telltale ring, and something snapped inside Milly. She ripped her hand away from Xavier, rubbing away the soreness his grip had left. ¡°Just what the hell is going on, Xavier?¡± she demanded, her voice raised. Xavier looked at her, as if truly seeing his work friend for the first time. He was surprisingly calm given the circumstances, and seemed to be calculating something in his head before he finally answered her. ¡°I don¡¯t know for certain,¡± he responded, staring at the panel on the door that was slowly counting down until it reached the lobby. ¡°But I have an idea. What do you think happened?¡± She was shocked. In the six months she had known him, Xavier had never once cared about what she thought. ¡°Are you¡­testing me?¡± she asked, a sharpness in her voice. ¡°Yes,¡± Xavier simply replied. ¡°You are a real jackass, you know that Xavier,¡± she spat, angry at him for the first time in their friendship, amplified by the stress and fear that had been building within her. Xavier simply shrugged, dismissing her opinion of him. He nodded towards the panel slowing counting down as they descended, as if it were a countdown for her to answer. ¡°Fine,¡± she said through gritted teeth. When was the last time I''ve been this angry? When was the last time I''d felt this¡­alive? The thought hit her like a freight train - it was the first time in years that something had pierced the depression and loneliness that had characterized her entire life. She took a deep breath, letting her anger at Xavier subside. ¡°Okay... well¡­ I doubt the city vanished, so I guess the Castle of Glass was moved?¡± Xavier nodded his agreement and prompted her to continue. ¡°The storm¡­¡± she reasoned, gaining some confidence. ¡°Was not a storm. It didn''t feel natural. It must have been responsible.¡± ¡°Good. And¡­¡± Xavier prompted as they moved past the fifth floor. ¡°And it brought us to some kind of competition. This ¡®God Contest¡¯. With fighting and¡­¡± She did not want to finish. ¡°And death,¡± Xavier finished for her. ¡°Denial will not change that, Milly. Denial will get you killed. Now, look at this.¡± Xavier waved a finger, and a translucent blue screen the size of his torso appeared, hanging in midair between them. Milly jumped backwards in surprise, her head striking the elevator wall. She rubbed the growing bump vigorously. ¡°What the hell is that!¡± she shouted. ¡°A player screen,¡± he replied softly in awe. ¡°Wait,¡± Milly said, ¡°I know what that is. You''re always ranting about inventories and profiles and skills, and all manner of these ¡®screens¡¯. It''s a video game thing.¡± Xavier nodded, and moved beside her and the screen moved with him, so Milly could read it. ¡°When I woke up after the storm, I starting thinking about something similar that happened in this game called Band of a Thousand Suns, where you need to search out companions across the world to¡­¡± Milly just stared at him and he stopped. ¡°Sorry, the narrative of the game is not important. What is important is I started thinking of the character I had built in the game, and suddenly this player screen - my player screen - popped up out of nowhere. Look.¡± Milly gazed at the screen, reading the fine white lettering against the blue background.
Xavier Holloway Player Specialty: Intensive Gamer Strength: 6 Agility: 6 Toughness: 3 Magic: 3 Talents: None
"What is all this?¡± Milly asked, confused. ¡°My stats,¡± Xavier said, smiling. ¡°Yes, but what is it for?¡± Milly asked. The elevator dinged. They had arrived at the lobby. ¡°I think we are about to find that out,¡± Xavier said, smiling from ear to ear. Chapter 4 – #788 "He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying" Friedrich Nietzsche, German Philosopher Milly stared across the lobby in wonder. When she arrived at work this morning, the lobby was as it has always been - a featureless entrance surrounded by cracked and dirty glass, with grey tile flooring that had been in disrepair for far too long and the tiny, newly renovated coffee shop tucked away in the corner. Now, it had transformed into something wonderous. The central lobby that connected all four towers now had flawless black marble floors, speckled with flakes of gold dust that gave the lobby an ethereal visage. Its glass walls and ceilings were flawless, and its glass was so clean that Milly thought it might have been just open air. Milly could see each of the four terrains that surrounded the Castle of Glass outside each of the four exits - gorgeous feats of nature at their fingertips. The space was filled with hovering screens like the one Xavier had shown her in the elevator. They will filled with text and pictures, and each had a unique title such as ¡°Using your inventory¡± or ¡°Leveling up: Your Path to Success¡±. The only things that remained unchanged were the tiny central open-air courtyard, which was still covered in weeds with a single long-dead tree, and the coffee shop, Rain on My Parade, though its doors were now closed. Milly struggled to take it all in, feeling like her mind might snap at any moment. Maybe it already has. That would explain all this nonsense. I could be laying on the floor of my cubicle right now, foaming at the mouth, while Xavier ranted about video games. Then the ambulance would arrive to take me away to an institution where she would¡­ Her morbid thoughts were interrupted by a small white-haired child who materialized before them. They both fell backwards in shock. She was wearing a flowing white gown and had flowers sprinkled in her hair. Her bright blue eyes, which matched the blue background of the floating screens, were piercing and playful. She gave them a beaming smile and jumped up and down in excitement. ¡°Welcome players!¡± the child shouted with joy, sparkles appearing around her like fireworks. ¡°Welcome to the God Contest. A nightmarish death for most of you, but with rewards beyond comprehension for those who emerge victorious.¡± Her exuberant attitude was unrelenting, and she said ¡®nightmarish death¡¯ as happily as she said ¡®victorious.¡¯ ¡°I am your guide to the world of the God Contest. You may call the collective me Tutoria,¡± Tutoria said with a flourish. Xavier snorted with laughter, and Tutoria¡¯s face grew sour, as if she were a child being mocked. Her face scrunched up and she glared at Xavier. ¡°It is not nice to mock, Xavier Holloway,¡± Tutoria scolded, her eyes filling with angry tears. Xavier continued to laugh until Milly punched him hard in the shoulder. She bent down to eye level with Tutoria. ¡°Sorry, my friend is a jerk,¡± she said with a smile. The tears disappeared from Tutoria¡¯s eyes, and she smiled kindly. ¡°Yah, he is. But most believe he will make it far in the God Contest. They don''t think you''ll last very long though.¡± Tutoria hopped away, dancing clumsily in a circle between the floating screens. Milly stood staring. She cleared her throat. ¡°Umm¡­who... who thinks that?¡± she asked, not knowing if she wanted an answer. Tutoria pointed towards the sky, then covered her mouth as if she were holding in a secret. She giggled and continued to dance around. ¡°Enough of this. Tell us what we need to know Tutoria,¡± demanded Xavier, ¡°The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get started.¡± ¡°Very well, grouchy man. Over here,¡± she led them to a series of twelve screens positioned at the beach-side entrance to the east, situated between Towers One and Two. Each had a ream of text and an image of a particularly gruesome death of a person. ¡°You are in the God Contest. The thirteenth God Contest of Humankind, to be precise. These twelve screens give you a summary of each of the previous Contests to help you understand what has led up to this point.¡± Milly walked over and started reading the summaries at the top of each one. ¡°Babylon. Theme: The Hunt. Participants: 29,875. Survivors: 0.¡± There was a picture of a man being torn apart by lions on a grassy plain. Milly shuddered, goosebumps rising on her arm despite the heat streaming through the glass from the beach. Xavier read the next one. ¡°Pompeii. Theme: Apocalyptic Survival. Participants: 10,102. Survivors: 0. This one has a woman burning alive in lava.¡± He quickly moved onto the next one. ¡°Machu Pichu. Theme: The Journey. Participants: 20,092. Survivors: 0. The picture is a child infected with plague. Why are there no survivors in any of these contests?¡± ¡°Humankind has proven particularly inept at surviving this final test. Most species only require one or two Contests to achieve victory. So far, your species has failed twelve of them. As I am sure you can understand, this has caused significant headaches amongst the creators. It has had... detrimental impacts on their health, you might say.¡± ¡°But what is the point of the God Contest?¡± demanded Xavier. His eyes flickered to the stacks of rusted weapons located in open crates at each exit. ¡°Data not found.¡± Tutoria responded. Her dancing stopped and she was suddenly stiff and robotic. Xavier and Milly stared at her. Tutoria¡¯s eyes were glossed over, her image flickering as if she were a program that had encountered an unexpected error. She stood unmoving, unblinking. ¡°Umm¡­Tutoria?¡± Milly prompted uncertainly. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Tutoria,¡± Tutoria said suddenly. ¡°I am your guide to the world of the God Contest. How may I help you?¡± Milly stared at Xavier. What just happened? Did she stroke out? Xavier found his voice first. ¡°Tutoria, tell us about the thirteenth contest. This contest,¡± he prompted. Tutoria started moving again, dancing over to another screen separate from the first twelve. It was blank except for the high-level information. ¡°The thirteenth contest. Theme: Video Game. Participants: 807. Current survivors: 807. The thirteenth God Contest has been developed by Hephaestus to mimic the recent human technology called a ¡®video game¡¯, with a focus on the role-playing game variety. It emphasizes mechanics focused on character growth, exploration, and survival, as these characteristics are most closely aligned with the ultimate goal of the God Contest. In short, players must survive in this world and explore it to accomplish its objectives. Fun fact. This God Contest has the fewest number of participants in the history of all the Cycles.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Yes! I knew it! A video game," Xavier exclaimed, and he began to bombard Tutoria with increasingly detailed questions on the mechanics of how the system. Milly tried to pay attention. She really did, but it was like listening to one of Xavier¡¯s rants, with terms like ¡®experience points¡¯ and ¡®talent map¡¯ thrown about so often that she felt completely lost.\ I''m sure Xavier will fill me in on the basics. I''ll just get in the way if I try to ask my own questions. She strolled away from Xavier, eyes glancing over the various screens that filled the lobby. As she stood in front of the screen entitled ¡®You in a Nutshell,¡¯ she wondered why she wasn''t upstairs right now, hiding in her cubicle or freaking out like Calista and the others were. Milly was scared, but her mind kept coming back to a single thought. ¡°It¡¯s not like I was really alive before,¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°What does it matter if I die here or live back there? No one will notice anyway.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not a very happy outlook,¡± said Tutoria, popping into existence next to Milly and causing her to jump again in surprise. Milly¡¯s eyes flickered over to Xavier. He was still talking with the first version of Tutoria. The child had duplicated herself. ¡°Handy trick,¡± murmured Milly, her mind still clouded with dark thoughts. Did I take my medication today? No, it was a gap day. I could really use it right now. ¡°Thanks, Mildred Persephone Brown,¡± chimed Tutoria chipperly. ¡°There are over eight hundred players in the thirteenth God Contest, and each player is assigned a Tutoria to help them during these early stages of the Contest. I am your Tutoria - Tutoria #788. You may call me #788 if you wish.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­um¡­ I go by Milly. How¡­how did you get assigned to me? I thought we were the first two to enter the lobby. Why aren''t you #1 and #2?¡± ¡°We are assigned based on your estimated likelihood of survival relative to your fellow players. The AI Director calculated that you would exit the Contest in 788th place out of 807 participants. That means the Director believes you will be the 19th person to die. Isn¡¯t that neat!¡± It was one too many terrifying notions. One too many strange things that had happened today. It was as if a switch inside her flipped, her maximum tolerance for bullshit exceeded. ¡°You want a happy outlook?¡± spat Milly. ¡°Tell your AI Director to go fuck himself. Then tell me, in thirty seconds or less, how this all works.¡± ¡°Okey dokey,¡± Tutoria replied cheerfully, taking a deep, simulated breath. ¡°The Contest pits you against dangers located across this world. The world is split into four terrains: Mountain, Plains, Ocean Archipelago, and Jungle, each with its own challenges, monsters, and rewards. Defeating monsters or completing trials gives you experience, which makes you stronger and lets you pick talents to customize your personal approach to the Contest." "These screens," Tutoria said as she waved her hand to make three appear. ¡°Will help you along your way. Player profile lets you pick which aspects of yourself to make stronger. Inventory is your own pocket dimension to store your stuff. The talent web allows you to pick special skills. They are the three main ones. You''ll figure out the rest as you go.¡± Tutoria raised her wrist, as if looking at an invisible watch. ¡°All eight hundred and seven players are part of a single team, and you win if you complete the final objectives of the Contest. You will need to discover what those objectives are on your own. You lose the Contest if all participants die. Oh, and I guess everyone who dies along the way also loses, even if the final objective is achieved. So whatever you do, don¡¯t die!¡± She ended with a high-pitched shout, as if she were a cheerleader at a high school football game. Ttaking a deep breath for dramatic effect, Tutoria smiled sweetly. ¡°There! Twenty-seven seconds. Three seconds to spare!¡± It took Milly far longer than that to mentally process everything Tutorial had told her. She wanted to ask more, to dive as deeply into the details as Xavier was, but she felt overwhelmed. Eventually, she sighed, and settled on a response. ¡°Okay,¡± Milly muttered, surprising herself. Fear, depression, anger, and self-loathing still warred within her, but it was acceptance and defiance that had found its way to the top of her emotional battlefield. ¡°Okay? Just¡­okay?¡± Tutoria #788 asked, disbelief in her voice. ¡°Players usually need more time to process it all. Some spend an entire day in the lobby. Some never leave. Some kill themselves, or kill each other. It is all great drama, you see, to watch the players agonize over their unavoidable fate. Your response is¡­boring. Even Chatty McChatterson over there with Tutoria #3 is more entertaining than you are.¡± Milly just shrugged. Though Tutoria¡¯s diatribe did reveal more than Tutoria probably had intended. This was a Contest, and what was a Contest without an audience. For a moment she thought of Oracle, the woman behind the green text, and wondered if she was one of them. Milly still stared at the ¡®You in a Nutshell¡¯ screen. I wonder who I am. Who I could become. Suddenly, a screen opened before her. Her own player screen. ¡°Hey, you figured out how to open your screens. Congratulations,¡± Tutoria¡¯s said with a sarcastic edge. ¡°You can mentally control all your screens.¡± Milly read the entry hovering in front of her.
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 1 Specialty: Depression Strength: 2 Agility: 3 Toughness: 8 Magic: 6
¡°Mildred Persephone Brown. Player. Specialty: Depression. Level: 1. Strength: 2, Agility: 3, Toughness: 8, Magic: 6. Depression? Really? Tutoria, tell that AI he is a real bastard.¡± Tutoria was about to scold the player, when suddenly the word ¡®depression¡¯ started to fade away. In its place, the word ¡®survivor¡¯ appeared. ¡°It¡­changed?¡± whispered Milly, shocked. ¡°The thirteenth God Contest is the first ever Contest with a built-in, fully adaptive AI Director. Before this, Contests were meticulously planned over millennia but ultimately static in their nature.¡± Tutoria saw Milly¡¯s face twist in confusion. ¡°Think of it this way, if that hurts your tiny brain. Before this, Contests were designed like your Olympics. Or like your reality TV shows. Grand adventures that stretch participants to their utmost limits, but unchanging in their nature and their objectives once the Contests launched. They were unable to adapt to the players individual and collective strengths, alliances, struggles, and victories. They were predictable. But with the AI Director, this God Contest can adapt to stretch the limits of the players and respond to their choices. Even the designers don''t know where it will end up.¡± ¡°Sounds horrifying,¡± replied Milly. ¡°And why are you suddenly being so mean to me. You weren''t like that when I was with Xavier.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the AI Director again,¡± Tutoria said, grinning. ¡°We change our personalities to better fit the needs of our assigned players.¡± ¡°So¡­I need you to be a snarky little asshole?¡± Milly asked. ¡°You need someone to be mad at, so you can stop focusing on how scared you are.¡± That''s... that''s actually pretty clever. I should be a huddled mess of tears and self-doubt right now, but all I can think about is how much this Tutoria is being a jerk. ¡°Clever,¡± she said, more appreciative of the depth of Tutoria¡¯s¡­personality? Programming? Milly did not know what to attribute it to and decided it didn''t matter. The elevator dinged. Xavier abruptly ended his questions and rushed over to her just as six new people walked into the lobby. Lawyers from Legal Eagles, judging by their disheveled dress clothes. ¡°Shit, we wasted too much time here. Come on, Milly. We need to go,¡± Xavier said, pulling her towards the exit to the western prairies. ¡°Why? Where are we going?¡± Milly asked. She wanted to ask him a hundred questions, but that was the only one that found its way to her voice. Xavier stopped in the doorway and grabbed a half dozen rusted weapons from the crates beside the exit. He opened his Inventory screen and Milly watched in amazement as each weapon vanished as it touched the screen. It was now represented by a tiny icon. ¡°I plan on being the best Milly. The strongest. The fastest. The one who will survive. That means getting out there first and staying ahead of everyone else. Fall behind in these games, and you are one step closer to the grave,¡± Xavier replied, as if this was a well-known fact. ¡°But this is a team contest,¡± protested Milly. ¡°We win or lose together.¡± Xavier scoffed at the notion. ¡°Are you willing to let Calista become stronger than you? Mr. Fredrickson? Mr. Stone, the CEO? These people already walk all over you. Do you think they will treat you differently in this Contest? Strength is everything, Milly. You can only rely on yourself. Fall behind, and you will become the victim of those stronger than you.¡± ¡°Then why bring me with you?¡± Milly asked, as she followed Xavier¡¯s lead and selected a variety of weapons for her own inventory. ¡°Why bother with me at all?¡± ¡°Because you are the only person I trust,¡± he responded absentmindedly as he threw open the doors and let the dry prairie air wash over their skin. Xavier took a deep breath, smiled, and stepped through the door. With Xavier¡¯s admission in her mind, Milly followed Xavier out of the Castle of Glass. Into the God Contest. Into the Unknown. Chapter 5 – The Nature of the Game "Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets." Paul Tournier, Author Milly walked a pace behind Xavier as they marched through the tall grasses of the plains, the four towers of the Castle of Glass growing distant behind them. The heat from the sun poured down, the steady dry breeze doing little to relieve the warmth growing beneath her black hoodie. Sweat beaded on her brow as she picked another tick off her worn jeans, crushed it between two fingers, and flicked it away. She glanced south, where the shade of the jungle canopy and gentle rain seemed to call to her. Its shade was a stark contrast to the stifling heat of the tree-sparse prairie they strode through. ¡°Tell me again why we didn''t go to the jungle.¡± Milly asked, her legs already sore. She wasn''t used to this much walking. ¡°Because then we would be soaked. I don¡¯t know about you, but these are the only clothes I had at work, and I don¡¯t feel like getting them wet. Plus, it¡¯s a jungle. It will be hot and humid when the rain stops. You''d be begging for the dry heat of the prairies after that.¡± ¡°You think you are so smart, don¡¯t you,¡± Milly sulked, grabbing the front of her hoodie and flapping it to move air across her chest and back. ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Xavier said confidently with a laugh. ¡°At least in this regard.¡± Milly could not help but laugh with him. Ever since they had stepped out of the tower, Xavier had the largest smile plastered across his face. She''d even caught him humming once. Humming, of all things. It was as if she was seeing the real Xavier for the first time. ¡°Are you¡­are you enjoying this?¡± Milly asked curiously. Xavier stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. He planted the point of the sword he had been carrying in the dirt, leaning on it casually. ¡°Milly, I am a shut-in and a weirdo. I work, I exercise, and I play video games whenever I am not doing one of those other two. I have no friends, my father disowned me, and I am broke. My life is barely worth living. It is barely a life.¡± He took a deep breath, leaned his head back, and stared up at the beautiful cloudless sky. ¡°But now I''m in a video game brought to life, filled with the thrill of the unknown. It¡¯s everything I¡¯ve ever wanted. My dreams become reality. So, yes, I am enjoying this,¡± His smile filled his face, eyes glistening with child-like wonder. Milly stared at him as if she were meeting a stranger. He''d never talked about his personal life before. Never mentioned his hopes and dreams. Never knew he had that level of personal insight. She did not realize just how similar they were. ¡°I¡­I guess I never thought of it that way,¡± Milly replied softly. ¡°My life is not anything spectacular either. No friends. No family. Just a dead-end job with my depression to keep me company.¡± Xavier closed the distance to Milly and, very tentatively, gave her the shortest, most awkward hug in the history of hugs. ¡°Then choose to embrace a new life here. It''s not like we have anything to go back to.¡± ¡°Xavier,¡± she whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die here. I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°So am I,¡± Xavier admitted. ¡°But doesn¡¯t that make you feel alive? And what is to say we would live longer back home? A bus could hit you tomorrow and poof! That''s the end of Milly Brown. The next week someone else is living in your apartment and has your job, and the world continues uninterrupted. No matter what happens here, it will be better than that.¡± ¡°You should be in the sales department, Xavier,¡± Milly said. She was still afraid, but Xavier¡¯s outlook was a refreshing alternative to fear. ¡°With those jerks? No way. The only person I can stand around here is you. Why do you think I took you with me? You are the only one I trust.¡± It was quite a compliment coming from Xavier. ¡°Thanks Xavier. I¡­I¡¯m glad you took me with you.¡± She stopped short of saying she trusted him. She didn''t know if she trusted anyone. The last person I trusted was my foster father and he¡­he was not someone I should have trusted. ¡°Unless I die, of course,¡± she added with an awkward laugh. ¡°Then I hope I can come back as a ghost and haunt you.¡± Xavier snorted in amusement, ¡°You would make a great ghost. You¡¯ve got the personality. Though you might be too introverted to haunt anyone. That would require human interaction.¡± Milly slapped his shoulder playfully, and they continued walking through the grass. ¡°So¡­why did your father disown you?¡± Milly asked curiously, trying to focus on anything besides the danger they were stumbling into. As she said it, she realized what she asked and tried to take it back. ¡°Sorry Xavier, you don¡¯t need to answer that. It was insensitive.¡± ¡°No, it''s fine. I don¡¯t tell people because no one asks, and I don¡¯t care to enlighten. People have enough reason to hate me without adding more fuel to the fire,¡± he said reluctantly. ¡°He disowned me because I changed my name.¡± ¡°Seems like a very petty reason to disown you,¡± Milly said sympathetically. ¡°Yes, well, he thought it was pretty fucking unforgiveable. As if it was my fault he was so attached to the name Vivian. Fucker kicked me out of the house the moment I told him.¡± Milly mouthed a silent ¡°Ooh¡±, realizing what he meant. She didn''t know what to say. She''d never noticed before, but now that she knew¡­maybe¡­ ¡°He... he sounds like a terrible father,¡± Milly finally replied awkwardly, breaking the uncomfortable silence. ¡°Xavier suits you better.¡± ¡°I like to think so,¡± Xavier responded. He left out a tiny sigh of relief. ¡°Now it''s your turn.¡± ¡°My turn for what?¡± ¡°To tell me your biggest secret,¡± Xavier said casually, bending down to look at something in the dirt at his feet. ¡°You know mine now, so it seems only fair.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never asked anything about me before,¡± Milly said, trying to stall. Could she be that brave? Xavier had trusted her with his secret, after all. ¡°Well, we were just work colleagues before. Frankly, I didn''t care to know more about you. People come and go so fast at Acicentre that I don¡¯t like to get attached. But our situation has changed, don¡¯t you think?¡± He stood back up, adjusting their course to the north. ¡°We are getting closer.¡± ¡°Closer to what?¡± Milly asked, trying to change the topic. ¡°Our first encounter,¡± Xavier said simply. ¡°Our first what?¡± ¡°Our first fight,¡± Xavier clarified. ¡°And don¡¯t think you can avoid the question. Come on, Mildred Brown, reveal to me your deep dark secrets.¡± ¡°Ummm¡­I guess so¡­ I¡­.,¡± she stammered. ¡°Gods, Milly, you don¡¯t have to tell me. I don¡¯t really care that much,¡± he laughed as she grew uncomfortable. ¡°Keep your secrets.¡± ¡°No¡­I¡­I¡¯ll tell. We could be dead tomorrow, anyways,¡± admitted Milly, and she started to roll up the sleeves of her hoodie. ¡°Just¡­please don¡¯t judge me. Milly rolled until her sleeves were past her forearms. She turned her arms outwards towards Xavier, showing the deep scars across her wrists. ¡°I was fourteen,¡± she started, her voice low but steady. ¡°My foster father was abusive. He would get drunk, and then he would get violent. Or worse. It was after a really bad night. I filled up the tub and climbed in and¡­you know. I remember feeling dead inside and laying there, wishing my outside would match how I felt inside. They found me before the end and took me to the hospital. Police got involved. It was a whole thing.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She paused, waiting for him to respond, fearful of what his response might be. Xavier shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s shitty, Milly. Looks like we both drew the short straws when they were handing out parents.¡± Milly looked at him, then burst out laughing. Of course Xavier would make such a flippant comment. What did I expect? Sympathy? Even if he were capable of that level of empathy, it would only have made me uncomfortable. ¡°Yah, I guess we did,¡± Milly said after she''d stopped laughing. ¡°Are we done being all deep and emotional and shit?¡± Xavier asked with a grin. ¡°Because we¡¯ve got adventure ahead of us.¡± Milly nodded and they continued walking through the grass. Except this time, Milly had found a bounce in her step to mirror Xavier¡¯s. Despite everything, she felt lighter than she had in a very long time. * * * An hour after leaving the tower, as the sun reached its zenith in the prairie sky, Xavier suddenly stopped. Ducking down behind the tall grass, he pulled Milly down beside him. ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯ve been looking for,¡± he whispered, pointing ahead. Milly raised her head carefully above the grass. Thirty paces away, a small green creature, humanoid but with sharp fangs and claws and covered in warts, crouched over the body of a deer. Milly watched as the creature ripped hunks of flesh from the deer¡¯s body and ate them raw. Blood streamed down the creature¡¯s face and chest. Milly gasped when she saw the deer struggle to stand, only for the creature to strike it in the head with a rock. Milly ducked back down, eyes full of tears. ¡°That poor deer is still alive. It''s eating it alive,¡± she whispered, horrified. Xavier rolled his eyes. ¡°Lots of creatures eat their prey alive, and if we are not careful, we will be next. Now, what did you see that was useful? Did it have weapons? Armor? Anything else nearby? Every piece of knowledge is critical for our survival.¡± Milly frowned. The gruff, obsessive Xavier had returned. She pictured the scene again, trying to forget the deer. ¡°It has a rock. And a spear at its side.¡± ¡°Which side,¡± Xavier asked impatiently. ¡°His¡­right side?¡± she said, uncertainly. ¡°What was it wearing?¡± Milly scrunched her face in confusion. ¡°Why does that matter?¡± ¡°It''s equipment raises its defense, of course. If we go up against something heavily armored or enchanted, we¡¯re dead. Come on Milly, get your head in the game.¡± ¡°It is not a game,¡± she countered. ¡°This whole thing might be designed around a video game, Xavier, but this is real life. Do we really need to fight this thing? We can leave it alone and go around.¡± ¡°What was it wearing?¡± he asked again impatiently. ¡°Just a loin cloth covering¡­ not enough. But¡­¡± Milly did not get a chance to finish. Xavier moved into the tall grass, holding his sword at his side with a fierce grip. ¡°Stay here if you are scared. This will be easy. I can do this alone.¡± He stayed low and disappeared into the tall grass. Milly opened her inventory, grabbed a rusty spear and held it tightly to her chest. Her heart pounded wildly and sweat dripped down her forehead. Her hands were clammy, making it increasingly difficult to keep her grip on the spear. ¡°Come on, Milly. Come on. You can do this. You can''t let him do it alone. Move. Your. Feet,¡± she whispered to herself. But her feet were not listening. They felt glued to the ground, and her knees felt weak. Her breaths were shallow gasps, and her eyes darting around at every sound. The few seconds seemed to stretch agonizingly slowly. Suddenly, she heard Xavier erupt from the tall grass near the creature, the rush of parting grass and heavy stomps in the dirt breaking the spell cast by her fear. Without thinking, she stood, desperate to see what was happening. She saw the creature¡¯s rock strike Xavier hard in the forehead before he''d closed half the distance, a resounding crack carried to Milly¡¯s ears. Xavier collapsed in a heap, his sword skidding across the prairie soil. Blood trickled from above his eye and flowed down his face as he lay unmoving in the soil. ¡°Xavier!¡± Milly shouted before she could stop herself. It was a mistake. The creature looked up and spotted the young women in the oversized hoodie standing in the grass. It smiled, a wicked grin of sharply pointed teeth, as it slowly picked up its own spear and strode in her direction. It licked its tongue over its blood-soaked face, eyes intent on death. Milly stood frozen in fear as it slowly took each step forward. She was a deer in the headlights. Her heart pounded in her chest so fast that she thought she might pass out. She swayed on her feet. Milly, get moving. You need to run. Run! Her feet refused to comply. The creature sprinted forward, spear held outwards to skewer Milly through the naval. The motion triggered Milly as instinct cut through fear. She stumbled to the side just as the creature thrust out its spear. The tip of the spear sliced open Milly¡¯s hoodie from side to side just above the front pocket, narrowly missing Milly¡¯s stomach. The creature was thrown off balance, shocked by the sudden movement of its prey. It turned to face Milly, eyes shooting daggers of intense anger, just in time for Milly¡¯s right foot to connect with its shin. It was a weak and feeble kick, but nonetheless caught the creature off guard. Milly retreateda dozen steps, never taking her eye off the creature as she tried to catch her breath. She felt the wind blowing through the large hole cut through her hoodie, bringing a small but welcome sense of release from the heat. She gripped her spear tightly and pointed it at the creature. Okay, Milly. Be brave. You can do this. ¡°Stay back,¡± she shouted at it, though it came out closer to a squeak. A mouse commanding a cat. ¡°I¡¯ll use this if I have to.¡± The look in the creature¡¯s eyes told Milly everything she needed to know. Its hatred burned bright, without a single ounce of fear in its eyes. Milly felt its intent to kill ¨C its need to kill ¨C and knew she only had one option left. To fight. As the creature rushed forward, Milly hurled her spear at it as hard as she could. The unexpected attack surprised the creature, and it could not move fast enough to dodge it. The spear struck the creature in its unprotected shoulder, driving deep into flesh and popping a massive wart that shot green puss across its arm. The creature howled in pain and rage as a sickening smell of rot and decay permeated the air. Milly held her breath, wanting to vomit, but kept her mind focused. ¡°Inventory,¡± she thought, and the screen appeared in front of her. As the creature resumed its rush towards her, his approach visible through the translucent screen, Milly reached for the first stored weapon she saw. A wooden mallet, three feet long and heavy, appeared in Milly¡¯s hands just as the creature reached her, off balance from the spear still lodged in its shoulder. Milly grasped the handle hard and swung recklessly with all her might. The mallet struck the creature in the side of the head. Milly heard the snap of its jaw and felt its skull crunch beneath her mallet¡¯s blow. The creature tumbled, and there was a terrible squelch as the creature struck a jagged rock where it hit the ground. It lay there, twitching, as it died, its fractured skull seeping its contents into the soil below. Milly dropped the mallet, covered her mouth in shock, and proceeded to vomit into the tall grass. Her vomit stuck to the front of her hoodie and trickle down her chin. When she gasped for breath, her mouth filled with the diseased stench of the creature¡¯s ichor, and she vomited again and again, until she had nothing left in her to expel. She stumbled towards where Xavier lay unmoving. ¡°Xavier, no,¡± Milly cried, wiping the vomit off her chin as she knelt at Xavier¡¯s side. ¡°Come on Xavier, hang in there.¡± He was breathing, but his inconsistent, shallow gasps were quickly growing weaker. Milly looked around for some way to help. The Castle of Glass was over an hour away. She didn''t have time to find help. She didn''t have time for anything. ¡°Please, there must be something I can do. I can¡¯t just let Xavier die. Think, Milly, think,¡± she said frantically. A screen materialized before her - a message.
You have defeated Goblin Scout. You have been awarded 10 experience points. You have leveled up, and received two attribute points and one talent point. Item: Soiled Goblin Loincloth added to inventory. 1 gold added to inventory.
Milly read it quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How does any of this help?¡± The message closed and another, far larger, screen appeared. It was the Talent Map that Tutoria had mentioned. ¡°Is¡­is there a talent that will help here?¡± she asked. Responding to her thought, the screen zoomed out, showing giant web of thousands upon thousands of interconnected talents. Some talents flashed softly, ready to be selected, while others were obscured, unavailable until prerequisite talents had been achieved. In the top right corner of the map flashed the message ''Available Talent Points: 1''. Milly didn''t have time to read any of it. ¡°Just take me to a talent that will help me save my friend,¡± she demanded, growing increasingly desperate as Xavier¡¯s blood dripped down his face. The screen shifted again and zoomed in on the bottom left corner of the web to the category labelled Healing. She scanned the options. ¡°Healer¡¯s alchemy. Nature¡¯s bounty. Regeneration (self)¡­¡± she read aloud, dismissing each. ¡°These all take too long.¡± Xavier started spasming, and Milly placed a hand on his chest in a panic. ¡°Just give me something that will help him now,¡± she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. The screen zoomed in further, highlighting a single option. ¡°Healer¡¯s Touch. The player harnesses the power of magic within herself to heal others. The amount of time and energy required is dependent upon the severity of the injury,¡± she read. ¡°Fine. I select that one,¡± she said desperately. ¡°Just help me save him.¡± The talent¡¯s lettering turned gold. Suddenly, a wave of knowledge entered Milly''s mind, causing her to grasp the sides of her head in pain. It felt as if someone was shoving a week¡¯s worth of training into her brain through her ears. It lasted only for a moment. As the pain faded, Milly sprang into action. She placed her hands against the sides of Xavier¡¯s head, feeling the depth of his injury through her palms. She could sense a pool of power within herself, sitting between her heart and her stomach, and opened herself up to it. Her hands glowed bright blue as she began to channel the power and let it cascade into Xavier¡¯s injury. His spasming stopped and breath steadied. Milly could feel his head wound slowly closing. Half an hour later, Xavier''s injury was scabbed over. It looked like the injury had happened a week ago. He was still unconscious, but Milly knew he would recover with a bit of rest. Milly¡¯s hoodie was drenched in sweat by the time she finished, her hands shaking with the effort. She felt emptied inside, the power within her completely drained. She struggled to keep her eyes open. With a final look at Xavier¡¯s steady breathing, she felt her eyes close as she drifted off to sleep, her body falling protectively over Xavier¡¯s unconscious form. Chapter 6 - How We Change "The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way" Robert Kiyosaki, Author Milly awoke an hour later, the early afternoon sun partially shaded by wispy clouds drifting across a gorgeous blue sky. A flock of birds glided through the air above her, landing the grass thicket a short distance away. Her head ached and her mouth was dry. Sweat soaked her hoodie, the vomit on the front now dried in the heat except where it clung to the sweat. The stench of the creature still hung in the air. She reached down to touch Xavier, but he was gone from beneath her. ¡°Xavier? Xavier!¡± Milly called frantically, terrible scenarios dancing across her mind. ¡°Over here. Keep your voice down,¡± came Xavier¡¯s call, gruff and impatient, but very much alive. She stood, her knees weak. She focused on the pool of energy inside her - the energy that had saved Xavier''s life - and was surprised to learn she could not only instinctively feel it, but know that it had partially refilled while she slept. This power must regenerate over time. Milly found Xavier crouched over the creature¡¯s body, its spear clenched in his hand as his fingers ran through its mangy hair in search of anything on its body. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± asked Milly, reluctant to get any closer to the creature. She waited for him to finish, absentmindedly picking off the ticks that had attached themselves to her while she slept. ¡°Fine,¡± came Xavier¡¯s gruff response. His shirt was caked in blood, but only a scab beneath his hair was left of his injury. He gave a frustrated grunt and stopped searching the corpse. He held the creature¡¯s spear aloft, looked briefly at Milly, and then placed the spear in his own inventory. ¡°It was on his left side,¡± Xavier said as he walked by her. ¡°What?¡± Milly responded, confused by his tone. ¡°The spear was on its left side, not its right side, as you said,¡± he spat. ¡°I had planned for his right side.¡± Milly looked at him, flabbergasted. She felt her blood start to boil. ¡°You¡­you ungrateful, condescending piece of shit!¡± she shouted at him, and he looked at her, shocked. ¡°You ran in there, all sure of yourself, and fucked up. And somehow that is my fault? You got hit by a rock, not a spear. I almost died fighting that thing!¡± She showed him the slice through her hoodie. ¡°I healed you and saved your life, and all you can say is ¡®it was on his left side¡¯?¡± She was breathing heavily from her righteous anger, the emotion breaking through her layers of self-doubt and passiveness like a hammer shattering glass. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare¡­don¡¯t you dare try to paint me with your failure. You¡¯d be dead right now, food for that creature, if it wasn¡¯t for me.¡± He stared at her for a long time, his eyes shifting as he tried to figure out how to respond to the unexpected tirade. Eventually, he looked down and kicked softly at something unseen in the dirt. ¡°It was a goblin, I think,¡± he murmured. ¡°What?¡± Milly said, her voice cold as ice. ¡°The creature. A goblin. In many games, it is one of the first monsters that players encounter. It''s weak and feeble, meant to be easily defeated by the player for early level ups. They are a joke. A joke.¡± Milly was about to launch into another angry tirade, when she saw tears begin to stream down Xavier''s face. He looked up at her, eyes wet and filled with fear and self-loathing. ¡°A joke, Milly. A joke. I¡¯m fast. I¡¯m strong. I know video games better than anyone. And I lasted two seconds. Two seconds! I could have died if you have not been here. This was my dream world, and it turns out I am as useless here as I am in real life.¡± Milly¡¯s anger broke like a wave crashing against the shore. She ignored the goblin corpse and pulled Xavier into a tight hug. His arms went around her, and he buried his face in her shoulder and cried until he had no more tears to shed. ¡°You are not useless, Xavier,¡± she said when he had stopped shaking. ¡°You are a jerk with the interpersonal skills of a lima bean, but you are not useless. You just got unlucky.¡± Xavier leaned back, rubbing away the last of the tears. ¡°You know, in certain genres, luck is added as a player stat that can be increased upon level up or with certain skills or items. I can help with¡­¡± he looked at her, then blushed red. ¡°Sorry,¡± he apologized shyly. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered. ¡°I have never minded your rants. I never understood them, but it was just a part of who you are.¡± She gave him a soft grin and a laugh. ¡°Besides, I guess they have more relevance now.¡± He returned her laugh, and she felt the tension melt away between them. ¡°Yah, I guess they do.¡± ¡°So¡­what were you doing with that¡­goblin?¡± she asked tentatively. ¡°Looting it,¡± he said simply, then elaborated when he saw her confused expression. ¡°Umm¡­ searching its body for useful items. Weapons, armor, trinkets, even body parts to sell or for crafting.¡± ¡°Eww¡­,¡± Milly said, disgusted. Xavier laughed. ¡°Yah, don¡¯t worry. I wasn¡¯t ripping out its teeth or anything. No sense going there until we know whether it is a mechanic in this game.¡± ¡°Yah, I would rather not walk around with an inventory full of body parts,¡± agreed Milly, gagging. ¡°Besides, this ¡®looting¡¯ occurs automatically. I got a message after¡­ after protecting myself from that one. It said I earned one gold piece and it added a ¡®soiled goblin loincloth¡¯ to my inventory.¡± ¡°Auto looting,¡± Xavier said appreciatively. ¡°That will save time and be far less gross. Gold must be this world¡¯s currency, which is also common in such games. Let me see that loincloth.¡± ¡°I really, really don¡¯t want to take the loincloth out,¡± Milly said. ¡°Come on, it could be important. Let me see,¡± Xavier insisted. Milly reluctantly opened her inventory and, with two very tentative fingers, grasped the icon for the loincloth and drew it out. The smell was horrendous, and they both gagged and covered their mouths. Milly dropped the loincloth to the ground and backed away. Xavier grabbed a nearby stick and lifted it gently. He focused and a small screen appeared next to it.
Item: Soiled Goblin LoinclothUnauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Pointless, unless your buyer has an extremely specific underwear fetish Benefit: None Sells for: 0 gold
Xavier gave a weak laugh. ¡°Do you want it back?¡± ¡°Oh, gross, no. Keep it away from me,¡± Milly protested. Xavier waved the stick in her direction, and she gagged. He laughed and used the stick to place it in his own inventory. ¡°You''re keeping it?¡± Milly asked, disgusted. ¡°You never know when it might come in handy,¡± Xavier answered, though even he looked doubtful. ¡°So¡­now what?¡± Milly asked, eyes darting back to the towers in the distance. ¡°Well, we really have two choices. Head back to the office, where we will stay weak and scared and inevitably die a horrible death. Or we press forward, grow strong and brave, and only probably die a horrible death.¡± Milly chuckled despite herself. It was absurd, but Xavier had a black and white outlook on the situation that cut through the constant fear knocking at her door. ¡°Press on then?¡± she said, hoping she sounded brave. ¡°Press on,¡± Xavier agreed, and they strode into the tall grass together. * * * They rested in the shade of a small copse of willow trees, their leaves gently rustling in the afternoon breeze. A small creek ran beside them, five paces across and slowly winding its way across the flat prairie landscape. Milly had her player profile open, and Xavier was showing her how it worked. ¡°See, when you beat that goblin, you leveled up. That¡¯s how you got your talent point, though you don¡¯t get one each time you level up. Tutoria kept that vague, and there seem to be multiple ways of receiving new talents. She did not tell me how. Apparently, some parts of the game¡¯s system are locked until we discover how to unlock them.¡± Milly had her shoes off, one foot resting in the warm creek and the other clasped in her hands, her blue healing glow working its literal magic on a blister that had been forming. She reveled in its cool touch as it soaked up the pain like a sponge. ¡°I could use more talents like this,¡± she purred. Her shirt was damp where she had tried to wipe off the vomit, but in the process she''d made the cut across her midriff wider. ¡°And maybe a sewing talent? Is that a thing?¡± ¡°Probably. I have never seen a talent map this diverse in a game. There are tens of thousands of options. I only read a fraction of them as we were walking here. There are common ones, like your healing magic or elemental magic, or combat ones like sword skills. I always go the swordman route, so that is what I will pick first. Stealth and ranged weapon skills are common in games too. But there is also an entire section for agriculture and another for politics. One for art and another for construction. I saw one that gave the player an expert level understanding of ancient Sumerian. You could probably find any skill you wanted if you spent enough time looking for it.¡± "You can just ask the screen and it''ll take you there. That''s how I found Healer''s Touch," Milly informed him. "Well, that''s handy," Xavier said appreciatively. ¡°Ok, so that¡¯s talents. So what are these?¡± Milly asked as she pointed to the two attribute points she had received upon leveling up. ¡°Well, if the talent map is the most complex I have ever seen, the attribute system is the simplest,¡± Xavier scoffed. ¡°There are only four attributes to choose from. Strength, which is how strong you are, obviously. Agility, which is your speed and nimbleness. Toughness is how well you withstand damage and how much stamina you have. And magic is for spellcasting, like your Healer¡¯s Touch.¡± ¡°Then where should I spend my two points?¡± Milly asked curiously. ¡°Honestly, I have seen games that require hours of complex micromanagement to strike the right balance and maximize gains. But this sytem? You could choose any of them and be fine right now. They must have made this part of the system simple to understand so it was accessible to most players. Personally, I like multi-input complex systems that allow for creative manipulation of complementary attributes to maximize player potential.¡± ¡°So¡­strength then?" Milly asked, confused. ¡°Sure, why not,¡± sighed Xavier, the intricacies of the art of system design lost on Milly. Milly focused and her strength increased from two to four. Suddenly, the muscles throughout her body seized, tightening as if she were having a whole-body charlie horse. She started to scream, but, as suddenly as it came, the feeling was gone. Milly felt good. Really good. Stronger than she had ever felt before. It was as if every muscle in her body had been through a year of steady training in the gym. ¡°Holy crap,¡± she exclaimed, staring at her arms in wonder. ¡°Xavier, this is amazing. I feel like I could take on the entire world right now.¡± She punched the air, not caring how silly she looked. Xavier rested his arm against a fallen willow tree. ¡°Let¡¯s test that out. Arm wrestle?¡± ¡°You¡¯re on,¡± exclaimed Milly excitedly. Five seconds later, Xavier decisively won. Milly looked dejected, but Xavier just laughed. ¡°I have been hitting the gym for five years, Milly. The system gave me a starting strength of six. You''re only at four with this boost.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t have let me win?¡± she said sadly, rubbing her arm where Xavier had slammed it down. Xavier laughed again. ¡°I have never let anyone just win. You want to beat me? Get that strength above a six.¡± Milly picked up a fallen twig, tossed it playfully in his direction, and stood up with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll beat you next time. I promise,¡± she declared as she slid on her shoes and started walking along the stream further into the plains. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to be beaten,¡± Xavier whispered as they left the copse of willows behind. ¡°Not by anything, ever again.¡± * * * Milly knelt in the grass and watched Xavier get into position. The two goblins lay in the open, bellies full and snoring. She held her spear aloft, waiting for his signal. Xavier whistled, hurled his spear towards the closest goblin, and rushed forward with his rusted sword in hand. Milly did the same, her spear flying towards her target and dashing forward with mallet in hand. Except, unlike Xavier, Milly had misjudged her newfound strength, causing her spear to sail wide, embedding itself into the ground next to Xavier¡¯s target. ¡°Shit,¡± she whispered with frustration as her target started to stir, eyes opening just in time to watch Milly¡¯s mallet speeding towards its head. It was the last thing it would ever see, as its head split open from the blow. ¡°Xavier, do you need¡­¡± she started to call, then saw Xavier¡¯s target with a spear impaled in its belly and sword lodged in its neck. Milly did her best to hold back the nausea, but her vomit won out. ¡°Ugg¡­yuck. I will never get use to this,¡± Milly said, spitting the last of the vomit into the dirt. Xavier pulled his sword from the goblin¡¯s neck. Its blood flowing out from the wound as it twitched on the ground in its death spasms. ¡°Stop thinking of them as real,¡± he told her. ¡°They are just obstacles in our way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­I don''t think I can do that, Xavier. I know these things will try to kill us, but they certainly seem real. And I don¡¯t want to assume that everything out here will be trying to kill us,¡± she said uncertainly. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Xavier said, opening the message screen and smiling as he read the results. ¡°They are just bags of experience to me. Speaking of which, these two bags were enough to give me my first level.¡± Milly was uncomfortable with Xavier¡¯s view, but she set her worries aside and opened her message.
You have defeated two Goblin Scouts. You have been awarded 10 experience points. Items: Soiled Goblin Loincloth. Gold: 1
¡°How come I only received ten experience this time when we killed two goblins? I got ten experience last time for killing one. Same with the gold.¡± Milly asked, curiously. ¡°And what¡¯s with all the loincloths!¡± ¡°In some games, if you win as part of a group, the group splits the experience and rewards. It looks like this is one of those games. The larger your group, the less you will receive," Xavier explained. He paused, his mind whirling with the implications of the revelation. "It makes adventuring alone more effective and profitable.¡± ¡°But it is dangerous to go alone,¡± Milly added, holding her nose and passing over the loincloth. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Xavier burst out laughing at Milly¡¯s words, though when she asked why Xavier said it was ¡®a gamer thing¡¯ so she would not understand. He simply took the loincloth and stuck it in his inventory, then finished his level up. Milly watched as he gritted his teeth in pain for a moment as he assigned his attribute points, then saw a giant grin spread across his face, eyes dancing with delight. ¡°Wow, this is amazing. Absolutely incredible,¡± he said as he clenched his hands, delighting in his newfound power. ¡°What did you take?¡± Milly asked curiously. Xavier paused for a moment, and again, Milly could see his mind weighing whether to answer her. ¡°Two points in strength, and the talent for basic sword forms," he said carefully. "But keep that to yourself. In these games, your strengths and weaknesses are best kept a secret. The less your enemies know, the more you can surprise them.¡± ¡°You are not my enemy, Xavier,¡± Milly said with confidence. "And we are all supposed to be a single team." ¡°Still¡­¡± Xavier said. ¡°Best to keep it to yourself. Trust me. People change when they get powerful. You need to focus on your own survival first.¡± Milly wanted to argue with him. But what if he was right? She glanced back at the office towers in the distance, and suddenly felt cold in the prairie sun.
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 2 Specialty: Survival Strength: 4 Agility: 3 Toughness: 8 Magic: 6
Chapter 7 - How Legends are Born "A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave for five minutes longer" Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Philosopher By the time Milly and Xavier arrived back at the office in the early evening, the air finally cooling as the sun set in the distant west, they had slain another eight goblins. Enough for them to have leveled up once more. Milly put her points into agility after the final pair of goblins had moved fast enough to tear another strip across the back of her hoodie. The bottom of the precious hoodie below her naval was hanging on by a thread, and Milly had to cut it off completely. Now she wandered around with her midriff exposed to the world and there was nothing she could do about it. She had been comfortable enough around Xavier - he''d never gave her a second glance - but now, as they approached the tower, she grew increasingly self-conscious about her belly hanging out. She longed for the protective ambiguity of her undamaged hoodie. Her sense of modesty was forgotten when she saw the chaos at the tower. The lobby was full of people rushing around. Many lay seated on the floor of the lobby or on the steps outside, bloodied and bruised as others wrapped their wounds in gauze from first aid kits. Milly saw two men in shorts and sandals carrying a body from the lobby, its face loosely covered by a jacket, and laid it alongside another dozen at the intersection of the rainforest and prairies. The men¡¯s faces looked exhausted, their last tears shed hours ago. ¡°Xavier¡­¡± Milly began, rushing forward towards the lobby. ¡°I know,¡± Xavier said, concerned. They sprinted to the tower. They were about to enter the lobby when an angry roar erupted from the jungle. Milly turned towards it, only to see Calista kneeling nearby, her fancy clothing and polished fingernails covered in blood. She was clutching a first aid kit to her chest. Has she been helping the injured? No way. Xavier rushed up to Calista, grabbing her by the shoulders. ¡°Calista, what the hell was that roar?¡± ¡°It¡¯s back,¡± Calista whispered, eyes filled with fear. ¡°We told them not to go. They didn''t listen.¡± Xavier did not have time to ask for more. Three people in business suits burst from the jungle at full speed. Milly recognized them as three of the people who had gotten off the elevator as they left the lobby that morning. ¡°Run! Everybody fucking run!¡± cried the man in the bright blue dress shirt and black tie. He was drenched in sweat and the spear clutched in his hands had been snapped in half. A woman in a pink blouse ran at his side, and an older man in a white shirt with monogrammed sleeves trailed behind. On their heels, erupting from the jungle with a violent snap of branches and footsteps that rumbled the ground with each step, came a ten-foot tall, massive humanoid monster, hairy knuckles gripping a thick branch as a club. It was pale and broad, easily over five hundred pounds. It had two large teeth that stuck out of its mouth, which was curled up into a sadistic grin. Xavier hauled Milly behind the nearest tree, its trunk wide enough to conceal them both. ¡°Shit, Milly, that¡¯s an ogre. Another staple in video games. Dumb as a brick, but vicious and tough as nails. What the hell were they doing?¡± ¡°They¡­they thought they could kill it,¡± came a whisper from Calista, still standing in the open beside the tree. ¡°It killed their friends this morning. They were distraught and got into their law firm¡¯s liquor cabinet. They wanted revenge. We tried to stop them but¡­ but¡­¡± ¡°And just how did that go?¡± Xavier asked sarcastically. As if to answer his question, the ogre swung its club and struck the older man with the monogrammed sleeves square in the back. The man sailed forward, body broken, and struck a tree twenty feet away. They could hear the snap of the man¡¯s bones, and Milly watched the man crumple to the ground, his neck snapped at an unnatural angle. ¡°Those complete fools,¡± exclaimed Xavier, removing all the goblin spears they had collected over the course of the afternoon afternoon and resting them against the trunk of the tree. Milly watched fear take hold of people as they dashed for the lobby or found cover. A few, like Calista, simply froze in place, unable to move as the monstrosity barreled forward. Milly felt a touch of unwelcome sympathy for Calista at that moment, remembering her first encounter with the goblin. As Xavier removed the last spear, Milly watched in horror as the ogre reached forward with his open hand and snatched the man in the blue shirt, lifting him effortlessly into the air. He squirmed desperately as the ogre set his club against a tree and smirked. The ogre grabbed the man¡¯s head in his meaty palms as the man pleaded for help, his voice growing frantic as the ogre squeezed. The pleading abruptly stopped as the ogre crushed the man¡¯s skull. Smiling like a toddler, the monstrocity licked blood and brain from its fingers before he held the body by his feet and slammed it against the ground until little remained but a pile of meat and bone. Milly felt fear and anger at war inside her, and anger won. ¡°Xavier, we need to do something,¡± she declared, grabbing two of the spears that Xavier had leaned against the tree. ¡°Yes, I know. Fuck, why did they have to lead it here? There are a hundred ways to kill an ogre that don¡¯t involve getting drunk and walking up to it looking for a fight. What I wouldn¡¯t give for a conveniently placed trip line or pitfall trap right now.¡± Xavier ducked his head out, scanning the area. ¡°Ok, you go left. I¡¯ll go right. Keep your distance. If we get close, we¡¯ll end up as meat like that guy. Got it?¡± Milly nodded quickly, grabbing two more spears and dashing to a nearby tree north of the ogre, fifty paces away from the lobby entrance. She watched Xavier take a flanking position, as they had with goblins all afternoon, and waited for his signal.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Calista¡¯s scream quickly altered their plan. The ogre had seen her standing in the open, frozen in place. It licked its lips, dropped the man¡¯s beaten corpse ,and rushed at full speed towards Calista, his next victim. ¡°Calista run! Damn you, run!¡± Milly shouted, jumping out from her cover as she threw her first spear. It struck the right side of the ogre¡¯s chest, burying itself deep. The ogre quickly forgot about Calista and turned its attention towards her. Milly threw her second spear, striking the ogre¡¯s left leg, and rushed over to Calista, still frozen in place. Milly shoved her, trying to snap her out of her fear-driven immobility. When that didn¡¯t work, Milly slapped her across the cheek, hard. Milly expected to see hate in Calista¡¯s eyes when she finally turned her head. Instead, Calista meekly nodded and ran towards the lobby. ¡°Foolish ditz,¡± whispered Milly, dashing back to her spears just as Xavier¡¯s first and second throws struck the ogre square in the back. It roared, twisting to locate his new assailant, and in the process caught two of the embedded spears on hanging vines. The spears were torn from its body, taking large chunks of flesh with them. The ogre roared in pain, swinging wildly at anything within reach. Milly stepped out from her cover once more, another spear flying. Xavier did the same, and soon the Ogre found itself trapped between the bombardments, unable to decide which target to commit to. Milly and Xavier took full advantage of its confusion, and a cheer start to emanate from the people watching from the lobby. ¡°Dumb as a brick,¡± whispered Milly. ¡°Xavier was right again. I must never let him know.¡± She threw another spear into the ogre¡¯s chest and saw its eyes flash in white hot anger. She waited for it to turn towards Xavier again, but his spear never came. She glanced behind the ogre at Xavier. He was out, fumbling to draw his rusted sword from his inventory. ¡°Ah, shit,¡± Milly swore, dashing away as the ogre committed to her and barreled forward in blind fury. It bled from a dozen serious wounds but still it drove on, its blood drenching the forest floor. Milly threw her last spear and drew her mallet from her inventory, never slowing or looking back at the bulldozer behind her. Branches snapped and rocks crumbled in its wake and Milly¡¯s eyes darted around for anything to help. She kept her mind working, so the crushing fear could not take root. She spotted a thick tangle of vines running between two banana trees. What had Xavier said about a well-placed trip line? She dashed towards it, signaling her intent to Xavier. She reached it just as the ogre closed within grabbing distance. She leapt as high as she could, clearing the three-foot-high vines with surprising ease thanks to her enhanced strength and agility, and hit the ground with a roll. As the ogre leaned forward, his feet caught on the vines. It gave a guttural roar of surprise as it lost its balance, fell forward and landed hard, nearly crushing Milly¡¯s feet with its thick skull. Milly scrambled to her feet as Xavier arrived, sword in hand, slashing at the ogre¡¯s flesh with expert strikes courtesy of his sword talent. He struck blow after blow on the ogre¡¯s back and limbs, waiting for an opportunity to strike its throat. The ogre bellowed in rage and pain, and Milly held her breath as Xavier found his opening and struck. A wild swing of the ogre''s fist caught Xavier in the chest before the final blow landed and he was hurled backwards. Xavier gasp in pain as he landed hard on the forest floor. Milly didn''t stop to think. She swung her mallet hard, shattering the ogre¡¯s nose. Its angry bellow caused the leaves in the canopy far above to shake. Milly sped away, confident she had its attention so it would not go after Xavier. Unfortunately, she had no plan beyond that. She was out of spears. Out of options. She could feel the heavy stomps of the ogre behind her, growing closer by the second. She chanced a glance at Xavier, heart dropping as she watched him trying to rise to his feet only to fall back down. ¡°Mil-dead, over here!¡± Milly turned, eyes wide in surprise. Calista was stumbling out of the lobby, carrying a rusted spear. Her eyes were filled with fear, but she kept running forward towards Milly and the rampaging ogre. ¡°Catch!¡± Calista shouted as she threw the spear to Milly. Using the last of her strength, Milly caught the spear in mid-air, turned, and hurled it as hard as she could just as the ogre leap forward to grab her. Milly felt the little finger of the ogre¡¯s meaty grip graze her side. It was enough to knock the wind out of her and shove her into Calista empty arms. Calista wrapped her arms protectively around Milly as they both fell to the ground. The ogre slammed into the ground beside them, skidding forward and leaving a deep groove until its momentum came to a halt. Milly''s final spear was pierced deep into its eye. Utter silence fell around them. Milly stared at the ogre, counting the heartbeats in her chest. A few seconds later, the lobby erupted into a cascade of cheers and whistles from the crowd sheltered behind the glass. Milly leaned back in Calista¡¯s arms, exhausted and gasping for air. Every muscle burned, and every fiber of her being cried out for rest. But she was alive. She felt alive. She felt so very alive! Calista still had her arms around Milly, her eyes never leaving the ogre. ¡°Mil-dead¡­um¡­Milly. Are you okay? Do you need¡­um¡­ anything?¡± Milly suddenly realized whose arms she was resting in and bolted upright. She looked at Calista¡¯s blood-covered yet somehow still pretty face, as she tried to form a response. But all she managed to squeak out was ¡°Water, please.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Calista said, removing her arms from around Milly¡¯s waist. Milly looked down at herself, covered in sweat and blood, her stomach sticking out from her torn hoodie. She tried to pull her hoodie down, embarrassed and self-conscious of her bare midriff as the cheers continued, but all she managed to do was further tear her hoodie. She gave up just as Xavier hobbled over and gave her a weak thumbs up. ¡°I got two more levels, Milly. Worth it,¡± he said weakly, then coughed sharply as he tried to inhale. ¡°Shit, I think I broke a rib. I¡¯ll need you to heal me tonight.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she whispered through her utter exhaustion. ¡°Sure Xavier, no problem.¡± Xavier stumbled into the lobby, and the roar of the cheers increased. Xavier ignored them and headed straight to the elevator without acknowledgement. Milly popped open the message she knew was waiting.
Congratulations! You have defeated Phillip the Ogre. You have been awarded 200 experience points. You have leveled up twice and received four attribute points. Item: Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre Gold: 50
She left the ring, automatically looted from the ogre, in her inventory. She just laid on her back and stared up at the canopy, watching brightly billed parrots glide between the branches. Calista arrived with water a few minutes later and Milly gulped it down like she had not had any for days. Her hands still clutched at the bottom of her hoodie, trying to pull it down over her fat, until Calista gripped her hand gently and moved it away. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that,¡± Calista said softly. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve treated you so poorly. I¡­I¡¯m just sorry.¡± ¡°All I had to do was kill a ten-foot-tall monster to earn that, huh?¡± Milly replied, with more venom than she intended. ¡°I¡­ yah¡­ I¡¯ll just go then. Um¡­ thanks for saving us, Milly,¡± she stammered, as she walked slowly back to the lobby. ¡°Thanks¡­ thanks for the spear,¡± Milly called to her, not knowing what else to say. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re welcome. And, for what it¡¯s worth, I kind of dig the cutoff hoodie vibe. It gives you a real apocalyptic badass look. You¡­ you look good, Milly.¡± Milly was surprised at the compliment, but Calista was already headed back to the lobby. Milly thought she caught a glimpse of red in Calista¡¯s cheeks as she turned away. Was that a blush? Chapter 8 - Rain On My Parade "A friend may be waiting behind a stranger''s face." Maya Angelou, Poet Milly lay awake in her cubicle, curled up on the floor beneath her desk. Her torn hoodie lay drying over the cubicle wall, washed as best she could in the tenth-floor women¡¯s washroom sink. Water and electricity still worked in the Castle of Glass, a small miracle that she chose not to question. Xavier snored beside her, curled up under his own desk in their shared cubicle. She had spent the evening healing him and any others she was able to help, before collapsing with exhaustion after her inner magic was depleted. Xavier had been there when she woke up at midnight, scrolling through his player screen and mumbling to himself. She''d frantically tried to cover herself, finding nothing and feeling exposed in her ratty bra, but Xavier had simply shrugged, turned off his screens, and fallen asleep moments later. Milly felt a bit put out. ¡°He could have at least pretended to like what he saw,¡± she mumbled. Not that she blamed him. She knew she wasn¡¯t much to look at, being overweight and greasy, and she was still finding droplets of ogre and goblin blood on her skin that she had missed. Milly felt odd thinking about such mundane concerns after everything that had happened. Fifteen people had died today, their bodies unceremoniously laid in a row against the plains-side tower. Hundreds had gathered in the lobby early in the evening to mourn them, until an argument had started about whether to bury or cremate the bodies. This had led to an eruption of anger and a shoving match that injured another half dozen people. Milly didn''t care to heal those that had brought their injuries on themselves, so she had headed back up to the tenth floor to wash while everyone was downstairs. The shoving match was not the strangest coping mechanism that she had seen. Everywhere she looked there were people yelling or crying. Donald, from accounting, paced endlessly back and forth by the water cooler mumbling to himself. Glenda, one of the tier-two troubleshooters, had been dialing 911 repeatedly for the past six hours. Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s office door was closed, but Milly could hear grunts and moans from inside as he and his secretary, Mrs. Anand, abandoned all pretext around the affair everyone knew they were having. At least someone is doing something more than yelling or crying. You go for it, Mr. Fredrickson, you cranky bastard. Now, as the clock ticked past one in the morning, Milly stared at the underside of her desk, wide awake. The tower seemed calm, for now. Milly could still hear choked sobs emanating from cubicles and the occasional scream as someone woke from a nightmare. But one by one, the exhaustion of the day claimed the consciousness of each of them. Except for Milly. Her mind raced with unfocused thoughts of little value. Who was going to clean the washroom? It''s going to get gross quickly. I made a mess in there when I was washing off the goblin blood. Shit, should I have cleaned it? Who decides this stuff? Milly thought of Mr. Fredrickson and the Acicentre CEO, Jacob Stone. Are they still in charge? I don''t think Mr. Fredrickson would be looking to take command after today. He''s found himself something - someone - else to do. But what about our CEO? She had seen Acicentre¡¯s middle managers in the lobby after the battle with the ogre, trying to assert their dominance over their employees. For the most part, they were successful, with most of her coworkers desperate for stability in the chaos. None of the middle managers had approached Milly though. Except for Mr. Fredrickson, who called her Milby, none of the managers even knew who she was. Yesterday, her anonymity had been a burden. Today, it was a gift. Milly rolled over and stretching her cramped leg out the cubicle entrance, feeling relieved at the satisfying pop. It''s so tight in these cubicles. There are so many empty floors and towers in the Castle of Glass, and the managers on the floors above them had massive offices. They''re going to have to share, right? All us call center employees can''t be expected to remain on one floor. Had Calista really blushed at her? Milly dismissed the unexpected thought as quickly as it popped into her head. The ramifications of exploring that line of thought were far greater than she could face right now. Better to battle against a whole tribe of goblins. What will we eat? That last thought was not meaningless. Milly¡¯s stomach growled, but she ignored it. It was not the first time she had gone hungry, but she was willing to bet that most people in the Castle of Glass didn''t live the same subsistance lifestyle that she''d lived her whole life. Hungry people become angry people, and angry people do foolish things. The office fridges will be empty within a day. Most people brought lunches from home, but it''s not enough to sustain someone for long. Some kept snacks in the drawers of their cubicles, but how far would chocolate covered raisins and pretzels go? And when surrounded by hungry people, it could be dangerous to be the person with the food. Even if it is just stale pretzels. The Castle of Glass had no cafeteria. The only thing close was the tiny coffee shop in the corner of the lobby - the only one of the four storefronts in operation. Milly grew frustrated with her wandering thoughts and inability to sleep. She sat upright, and accidently slammed her head on the underside of her desk. ¡°Damn it,¡± she whispered, frustrated with herself. Using a tiny bit of magic, she used Healer''s Touch to relieve herself of the headache it had caused. "I need to get out of here. Clear my head." She quietly ducked out of her cubicle, donning her still damp hoodie as she left. She was grateful that life had given her a robust tolerance for minor inconveniences, like dirty clothing and hunger. She had a feeling tolerance of such things would be valuable in the days ahead. She arrived at the lobby several minutes later. The dim blue light of the floating screens cast eerie shadows against the glass and into the blackness beyond. Milly paced along the outer walls, absentmindedly looking out the windows at the white sand beach and crystal blue ocean to the east. She cleaned up the now-depleted weapons crates that had fallen over during the evening¡¯s chaos as she paced around the perimeter. As she reached the entrance to the southern rainforest, she stared out at the ogre¡¯s corpse, dimly lit in the moonlight. We''ll need to move it, before it starts to smell. She recalled the congratulatory message after the battle and the item she received. She opened her inventory and withdrew the Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre. It was plain, fashioned from crude iron, with a tiny skull with ruby eyes embedded within the band. ¡°Now, how did Xavier do this?¡± she muttered to herself, focusing on the ring and willing its description to appear. "I think... yes, figured it out!"If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The little blue screen materialized above the ring.
Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre Even ogres need to find love, right? Benefit: Increases the wearer¡¯s strength by 4 Warning: You will anger Phillip¡¯s wife, Phillipa, by wearing this ring. Her stats against you will be doubled if you encounter her. Do you wish to resize the ring?
¡°Increase my strength by four? By putting on a ring? That would almost double my strength,¡± Milly gasped. She hesitated briefly as she read the warning, but the benefit was too great to ignore. ¡°Maybe I won¡¯t come across her if I say out of the jungle?¡± she mused. ¡°Yes, please resize the ring.¡± Milly watched in amazement as the ring in her palm twisted and shrunk down until it was half the size it once was. She picked it up tentatively between two fingers and slipped it onto her right index finger. The moment it passed her knuckle, Milly felt its power flow into her. It was a different feeling than increasing her strength or her agility attributes directly. With direct attribute increases, she could feel herself growing stronger. With the ring, it felt as though someone else were helping her. She could feel the power flowing from the ring into her and knew if she ever removed it that helping hand would be gone. ¡°This is incredible,¡± Milly whispered. ¡°I might be as strong as Xavier now.¡± An unwelcome thought entered her mind. Would Xavier want the ring? I don''t think he got one. I don''t think he got anything from the battle, other than his half of the gold. Milly unconsciously covered the ring with her unadorned hand. Or what if someone else wants it? She suddenly understood why Xavier had advised her to keep things to herself. The shattering of a dropped glass interrupted Milly¡¯s thoughts. She turned towards the sound and saw a light on in the tiny coffee shop nestled in the northwest corner of the complex, its windows facing mountain and ocean terrains. Milly walked tentatively over to the shop¡¯s sliding door, her curiosity getting the better of her. A young woman in her late twenties with short brown hair cut into a bob swept broken glass off the floor. She wore a simple white apron over a barista uniform, her thin spectacles giving her face a kind and innocent expression. She hummed softly to herself, oblivious to Milly¡¯s presence, as she swayed her narrow hips to a tune only she could hear. Milly started to leave, but ducked inside a heartbeat later on a whim. ¡°Umm¡­hello?¡± Milly said uncertainly, feeling awkward at the interruption. Why am I saying hello to a stranger in the middle of the night? The woman gave a start, dropping her broom to the floor. She saw Milly standing there in the torn hoodie and started giggling. ¡°Oh, you startled me. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any coffee ready. We''re closed right now,¡± The woman¡¯s voice had a genuine cheerfulness to it, with years of customer service hidden behind the sweet smile. The woman thought for a moment and added, ¡° Though if you want to come in, I can put on some tea. I can''t sleep anyways, and after everything that happened today, company would be welcome.¡± Milly walked in, stepping lightly over the shards of broken glass scattered across the floor. Her increased agility, which she had increased again after the battle with Phillip the Ogre along with her strength and magic, made the feat far easier than it would have been yesterday. ¡°What happened here?¡± Milly asked curiously, pointing to the upended tables and plastic chairs. ¡°Oh, the fight from this evening spilled into my coffee shop. A couple tables fell over in the scuffle before people remembered to be civil. I think it helped snap people back to reality, honestly. A couple broken glasses and plates are a small price to pay for a bit of peace.¡± Milly was captivated by the woman¡¯s positivity and optimism, even after everything that had happened. She felt a touch of envy, wishing she could feel the same way, if only for a moment. Milly reached down and grabbed the broom off the floor. ¡°I would love some tea,¡± she lied, having never had the luxury of affording tea before. ¡°You put it on, and I¡¯ll sweep. I¡¯m Milly, by the way.¡± Milly started sweeping the broken glass into a pile. It felt good to be useful. ¡°I¡¯m Rain,¡± the woman replied, ducking behind the counter to fill a small kettle with water. ¡°This is my coffee shop, Rain On My Parade. I named it that because people kept telling me I was crazy to open a coffee shop. But I did it anyway. It took me every penny I had and more, but I''m proud of it.¡± Rain watched the kettle absentmindedly, flipping through a stack of overdue bills piled on the counter beside it. She had a touch of sadness in her eyes beneath her subdued cheer. ¡°I only opened last month, Rain continued. "Business has been slow, but I kept myself busy experimenting with creating different types of teas. It''s a passion of mine.¡± Milly swept the glass into a dustpan and ducked behind the counter to dump it in the trash. She felt like she was peeking behind the curtain of Rain¡¯s dream. ¡°Where should I¡­¡± she started, pointing at the dustpan. ¡°Oh, in here,¡± Rain said, dragging out the trashcan from beneath the counter. Milly walked over and upended the pan, letting the shards fall slowly into the bin and tinkle as it struck the bottom. ¡°What¡¯s next to clean up?¡± Milly asked, ready for more. ¡°These,¡± Rain said with a touch of rebellion as she picked up the stack of bills and hurled them into the trashcan with a laugh. ¡°Silver linings, right? No more banks means no more bills. Just coffee and customers.¡± She looked over Milly¡¯s shoulder and into her storeroom. ¡°Well, a little bit of coffee left anyways...¡± ¡°And no more competition,¡± Milly added with a laugh. ¡°You¡¯re the only game in town now.¡± ¡°A monopoly!¡± Rain giggled. ¡°I¡¯m the Starbucks of wherever the heck we are.¡± They laughed together, the lame joke seeming to cut through the tension and tragedy of the day. It was as if they had given each other permission to find the joy hidden beneath the sorrow. Milly decided at that moment that she liked Rain. The kettle whistled and Rain grabbed two cups. ¡°Milly, can you tip those tables and chairs upright while I get our tea?¡± Milly nodded, grabbed the nearest upended plastic table, and accidentally lifted it right off the ground with her increased strength. Milly jerked her head towards Rain in a panic and gave a sigh of relief when she saw Rain was looking the other way. She very intentionally set the table down. ¡°Do you take milk or honey?¡± Rain asked, pouring the water into cups. ¡°Ummm¡­,¡± Milly stalled, having no idea what she should say. ¡°Honestly Rain, I have no idea. I have never had tea before." Rain gave an exaggerated gasp of excitement, clapping her hands together in joy. ¡°A tea virgin? Don¡¯t worry, you are in safe hands. We¡¯ll have my own, highly experimental, blend for your first time.¡± She brought over the tea and Milly lifted it up to her nose to smell. It gave off scents of berries and mint, with just a hint of something else. She looked to Rain for an answer. Rain lifted a finger to her nose. ¡°Nope, not telling. It is a Rain Desjarlais secret. Milly tentatively sipped her tea and its warmth filled her up inside. ¡°Well?¡± Rain asked, excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s so good,¡± Milly said with a purr of genuine appreciation. Against the backdrop of today¡¯s anarchy, it was an anchor to a normal life. Not that I''ve ever lived a normal life. I haven''t had a true life - or a true home - in, well, ever, I guess. Milly realized that, despite the horrific events of the day, she had never once longed to return to that life. This place is awful. So what does it say about my life that I don''t feel the desire to find a way back? Did my life have such little value that I have no desire to find it again? The dark thought brought a frown to her face and she set down her cup. ¡°Changed your mind?¡± Rain asked, looking at Milly¡¯s tea. ¡°Not as good on the second sip?¡± ¡°No, it''s wonderful. It¡¯s not the tea. Just¡­a dark thought,¡± Milly did not know what else to say, and left it at that. Rain gave an understanding smile, then quickly grew excited. ¡°Ooh, I should call this blend Introspection Tea. Or the Dark Thoughts blend. Teas are always named after peaceful things, like Morning Glory or Lemon Sunrise. Those names don¡¯t really fit here. We need a dark name for dark times. It''ll really make the tea stand out.¡± Milly gave Rain a puzzled look, then chuckled at Rain¡¯s excitement as her dark thoughts dissipated. ¡°How about Dark Introspection? The tea for the goth soul.¡± Rain joined in Milly¡¯s laughter and rushed over to the counter to write it down. ¡°Done! A new tea for a new world. The first of many to come.¡± ¡°Mountain, Ocean, Jungle, and Prairie. There must be ingredients in each you could use. Perhaps even some undiscovered ones,¡± Milly suggested. ¡°Yes!¡± exclaimed Rain, emboldened. Her eyes stared out the window at the sandy beach, and she raised her cup. ¡°To many more blends in the days ahead.¡± ¡°And to the finest coffee spot I¡¯ve ever been to,¡± added Milly, smiling. ¡°Wait, how many have you been to? You¡¯ve never had tea before.¡± Milly simply smiled, took another sip, and let her dark thoughts slip away one by one.
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 5 Specialty: Survivor Strength: Base:6 Enhanced: 10 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre) Agility: Base: 6 Enhanced: 6 Toughness: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Magic: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Talents: Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch
Chapter 9 - Traces of Oracle "Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things." Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman Milly and Rain chatted for hours as the night wore on, alternating between refills of tea and tidying Rain¡¯s shop. Milly felt herself opening up to Rain, drawn in by her kindness and curiosity. Rain asked Milly about her life, her hopes and dreams, and her passions, and she did not make Milly feel small when she had few answers to give to any of those questions. Rain was the youngest child of eight - all older brothers who had joined her parents¡¯ butchery business. She was the first in her family to attend university, which had lasted six weeks. She''d quit the moment she started working at the University¡¯s local student-run coffee joint - where her love of the craft was born. She hadn''t realized quitting school meant she could no longer keep working at at the university, but her love of coffee and tea survived the disappointment. Rain spent the next decade employed by different coffee spots as a barista, staying at each employer just long enough to learn everything she could before moving on. She saved every penny and, three months ago, had finally saved enough to open her own place. Rain On My Parade was nothing fancy, but she was proud of it. It was small, its counters lined with a collection of auctioned-off second-hand equipment. The Castle of Glass - perhaps the cheapest rent in the city - was the only place she could afford, but she was confident she would make it work. Milly listened to Rain tell her story, enthralled at her resourcefulness and drive. It made Milly envious, and she wondered if she could have accomplished what Rain had. Her ambition ignited something within Milly. Could I have broken free from my own soul-crushing routine?I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter now. By the time their fourth cup of tea was empty, Milly knew she had made a lifelong friend. The realization brought tears to her eyes. ¡°You okay, Mil?¡± asked Rain, spotting Milly''s glistening eyes. ¡°Yah, I¡¯m... I''m fine,¡± Milly sniffed, wiping her eyes on her hoodie sleeve. ¡°Thanks for caring.¡± Rain just smiled. They sat in a comfortable silence, staring out the window at the moonlit beach and the gentle waves crashing onto the shore. Wherever they were, it was a beautiful world. A light shone in the sky, arcing like a shooting star, and Milly watched its path. The light grew brighter, and Milly realized it was not streaking across the sky but plummeting straight towards the beach. ¡°Rain!¡± shouted Milly in alarm, as the object careened into the sand at the edge of the water. A cloud of sand pelleted against the glass and caused the floors to rumble. ¡°What the heck was that?¡± said Rain in shock, knocking over her empty teacup with an errant elbow. Milly opened her inventory and removed her mallet. With the strength gained from her ring, it felt like it hardly weighed anything, a marked difference from her first encounter with the goblin that morning when she struggled to lift the weapon. Rain¡¯s eyes grew wide at the sight of the mallet appearing in Milly¡¯s hands. Milly realized Rain had not left Rain On My Parade since the Contest began. ¡°I¡¯m going out there to check,¡± Milly said as confidently as she could, standing abruptly and rushing for the door. ¡°Milly, no! It¡¯s dangerous out there. People died yesterday. There was a giant monster¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± interrupted Milly. ¡°But that¡¯s no reason to stay cooped up in the Castle. I¡¯ll be back. Save me another cup of tea.¡± Milly rushed into the lobby and through the Ocean entrance without waiting for Rain¡¯s response. The night sky above the beach was peaceful, the sound of ocean waves and the swaying of palm trees in the breeze joined in a gentle, soothing rhythm. The sand beneath Milly¡¯s feet, stretching from the lobby entrance to the edge of the sea two hundred paces away, was silky soft, without a single stone to mar its perfection. The stars were bright overhead, and a nearly full moon lit up the beach in a pale glow. The only imperfection was the crater that now existed near the water. Despite her hurry, Milly took a moment to fill her lungs with the vibrant night air before she dashed towards the crater, amazed that she was able to do so even with the shifting sand beneath her. Yesterday, she could never have sprinted anywhere. Or done any form of exercise. The simple walk through the plains with Xavier had exhausted her. Now, she was not even out of breath. Yes, it''s neat Milly, but pay attention! Be aware of what is around you. She pictured giant orcas erupting from the ocean to drag her down into its depths, and gripped her mallet tighter. She kept her anxious eyes on the darkness, searching for movement but seeing none. The crater was ten meters wide and not particularly deep given the strength of the impact. As Milly approached it, she saw the soft glow of fractured light, randomly moving along the ground. The light was split into multiple moving beams, and where the light touched sand, the sand became something new - Molten lava or solid stone or crystalline snow. In the centre of the crater lay a milky white orb, the size of a basketball, physically intact and the source of the light that was casually transforming the landscape within the crater. ¡°It seems¡­broken,¡± whispered Milly. She felt herself drawn to the orb, as if an external force was urging her forward by harnessing her own curiosity. She carefully stepped into the crater, knowing that she should not. She didn''t know what would happen if the light touched her. Yet she continued forward, one step at a time. The light flashed to her left, and the sand became a sheet of pure glass. She took another step. Another beam of light to her right, and the sand became a foot wide garden of poppies. Another step. Milly jumped quickly to the side as the light shone where she had been standing, the ground now transformed to concrete.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Fuck, that was close,¡± whispered Milly, and she started to take faster steps. She was almost there. All she had to do was reach for it. The light shone on Milly¡¯s face, and in her shock she fell forward, her hand slapping the orb on the way down. She landed on the soft white sand, and her hands started flailed about her body, looking for missing pieces or sudden eruptions of flowers or lava. She was whole, and the random lights disappeared the moment she touched the orb. Milly came to her senses, the curious pull towards the orb dispelled. ¡°What the fuck are you doing Milly?¡± she shouted to herself, as she ran away as fast as she could, leaping out of the crater just as it became awash in a glowing white light. The orb at the centre of the crater lifted off the sand and hovered ten feet above the crater. A voice began to emanate from the orb, fractured and robotic. ¡°God Contest Development Log¡­log¡­log, Day 1. Access¡­grant..grant¡­granted by Oracle. Begin playback?¡± ¡°Oracle?¡± Milly whispered, astonished. ¡°The one from my monitor?¡± ¡°Begin play¡­play¡­playback?¡± the orb repeated. ¡°Umm¡­yes. Yes, begin playback,¡± Milly spoke uncertainly. The orb began to spin in midair, picking up speed and releasing light from thousands of tiny multicolored pinhole lights spread across its surface. Milly gasped in wonder as those lights came together to create a projection across the crater, a three-dimensional hologram of what looked like a medieval workshop. Candlelight illuminated the oak workbenches spread throughout the small chamber and ornately carved bookshelves lined the walls. In the centre of the room hovered a sphere of pure energy, a kaleidoscope of colors circulating within. At the workbench at the centre of the projection, a bearded man in a blacksmiths apron rested his hairy arms on the surface of the bench, a tiny cube placed before him. The man radiated power, an oversized hammer of sparkling metal strapped to his back and muscles perfectly toned from unknowable eons of labour. The image began to move, and a deep, frustrated voice came from the figure. ¡°Do I really need to do this? We never did for any of the other contests. Why is this¡­oh, fine. I¡¯ll not argue with you, woman.¡± The man cleared his throat with a cough. "God Contest, trial thirteen. Hephaestus¡¯ journal, first entry. This journal is the record of my¡­of our¡­attempts to develop the thirteenth God Contest for species homosapiens. The twelfth contest has just ended after three years, eleven months, and twelve days. There were no survivors, making it yet another failure.¡± Hephaestus laid his head in his broad palms, sighed, and took on a more conversational tone. ¡°Twelve attempts. Twelve cycle-barren attempts. We worked on the design for the twelfth contest for four hundred years, less than half the time we had to design the eleventh. It''s flaws were obvious from the very first day. Now, we only have decades to design the thirteenth. Our time is running out." Hephaestus slammed his hand on the bench in frustration. "Even species Bohidian of the fifth Cycle only required four Contests before they found success and we were allowed move on. You would think we would have learned to do this better over the three hundred and eighty-two cycles since then.¡± ¡°Each of the Nexus'' children are different, Hephaestus,¡± came a calming voice, and the projection of a beautiful young woman in a white dress embroidered with moons and stars and wearing round glasses to large for her face, entered the scene. ¡°You know this. If they were not, we would not have to spend so much time designing the Contests, and our lives would be dreadfully dull.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you Oracle,¡± Hephaestus said sarcastically. ¡°As always, your insight is invaluable to this endeavor.¡± ¡°Oracle,¡± whispered Milly, absorbed in the scene playing out before her. "The woman who sent the message on my monitor." Oracle gave a sweet laugh as she brushed aside his sarcasm and rested her hands on his broad shoulders. ¡°Focus on the heart of the problem, my love.¡± ¡°The problem is the Nexus made these humans to be completely predictable in groups and completely unpredictable as individuals. Like a hive of bees, if every bee was fucking insane.¡± Oracle raised an eyebrow at his language. ¡°What?¡± Hephaestus said. ¡°Cycle-barren is a terrible swear. I don''t like these humans, but I do like their curses.¡± ¡°Focus, dear heart,¡± prompted Oracle. ¡°Time is of the essence.¡± ¡°I know that,¡± spat Hephaestus. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that? I''ve watched the madness take our fellow gods. I see it gaining hold in those who still have their minds intact. I feel the madness trying to grab hold of me.¡± He gave a resigned sigh. ¡°How long do we have, Oracle, before we are all lost?¡± ¡°Based on the current rate of acceleration? About forty years,¡± she said, as if telling him the weather. ¡°Forty years? Oracle, the Contests take thousands of years to design and build. This last one was deeply flawed because we only have four hundred years to do it and our High Lord launched it before it was ready. Are you telling me we only have forty years to design what will be our last shot? Our last attempt before the madness takes us all?¡± ¡°No,¡± Oracle corrected. ¡°I said up to forty years. So we had better get started.¡± ¡°And if we fail, then¡­¡± ¡°Then this will be the last cycle,¡± Oracle said. ¡°The cycle cannot end until the humans have victory in the Contest. Only then can we gods move on, renewed.¡± ¡°Great. Just great. Any ideas where to start with this design then?¡± ¡°Actually, I do,¡± Oracle said chipperly. ¡°The humans have just invented something called a ¡®video game¡¯. They have proven to be remarkable good at them, and they are accessible to a broad swath of their population. I believe we can adapt this model to be the basis of the thirteenth God Contest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure we could,¡± interrupted Hephaestus. ¡°If we had another thousand years. But we do not have that kind of time, Oracle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where the human¡¯s second invention comes into play,¡± she answered, leaning down so her mouth was beside his ear. ¡°Artificial intelligence.¡± ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Hephaestus asked, skeptically. ¡°Right now? It is a concept dreamt up by their writers and a distant glimmer in the eyes of their scientists. It does not exist. But it will in about forty years.¡± Hephaestus stared at her without understanding. Oracle sighed. ¡°An artificial intelligence is exactly what it sounds like. A created intelligence, built into their machines, which can make decisions on its own, eliminating the need for us to design every little detail." ¡°Oracle, that sounds like what the Nexus does when it creates intelligent species.¡± ¡°And it is exactly what we need, Hephaestus. You said it yourself. Humans are too unpredictable. Every time we design a static contest, they fail, because we cannot alter the Contest''s parameters once it is launched. But imagine a Contest with an artificial intelligence director at its core, able to adapt the Contest in real time.¡± ¡°The artificial intelligence could build the Contest as the humans progressed,¡± Hephaestus whispered, starting to understand. ¡°We would not need to spend a thousand years designing and building the entire contest. We would only need to design key milestones and implant an artificial intelligence at its core to do the rest. It could work.¡± Hephaestus turned to face Oracle. ¡°So what are you not telling me?¡± Oracle grinned and removed her hands from his shoulders. ¡°It is dangerous. And against Holy Law. And building a stable artificial intelligence is impossible with the time we have, so best case scenario the artificial intelligence will only be slightly insane. And about a hundred other downsides. I have a list if you want to see it.¡± Hephaestus groaned. ¡°Woman, you are going to drive me mad.¡± Oracle raised a suggestive eyebrow but remained silent. Hephaestus sighed. ¡°We don¡¯t really have a choice, do we?¡± ¡°No, we really don¡¯t,¡± Oracle said, her voice soft. ¡°If this Contest fails, it is the end of the humans, of the gods, of the Nexus, and of all things we know and love.¡± ¡°Then we should get to work. Now, how the hell do I shut this recording off?¡± The images stopped moving and the light faded from the orb. The scene dissolved into tiny motes of light that flashed that were swallowed up by the darkness. The orb fell to the ground, its light extinguished. ¡°Milly, what did I just watch?¡± Milly turned in surprise. Rain stood behind her. Her knees shook as she grasped a wooden club in her hands. Her knuckles were white, and the blood had drained from her face. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Rain,¡± Milly said in a whisper. ¡°A memory. A memory I don¡¯t think we were intended to see. I¡­ I think we should keep this to ourselves for now.¡± Rain nodded meekly, both woman picturing the utter pandemonium that would erupt amongst the players if this knowledge were known. A click from the orb in the crater drew Milly and Rain¡¯s attention. The orb¡¯s outer casing dissolved away and disappeared into the sand beneath it. Where it once stood rested a simple white dress embroidered with moons and stars. And a pair of rounded glasses. Chapter 10 - Gown and Glasses "The way you dress is an expression of your personality." Alessandro Michele, Italian Designer Milly woke in her cubicle with the sun cascading over the mountains to the north. She groaned, rolling over and feeling her muscles ache and joints crack from an awkward sleep beneath her desk. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was and what had happened yesterday, and she pinched herself hard to make sure this was not a dream. ¡°Ouch. You know, in stories, for all the hardships the characters go through, at least they get to stop going to work,¡± Milly complained, looking around her cramped cubicle. ¡°I don¡¯t even get that luxury.¡± Her eyes flickered up to Xavier¡¯s computer, and she blinked to clear the sleep from her eyes. She looked at the clock in the bottom right corner of the screen. ¡°It¡¯s almost ten o¡¯clock?¡± she exclaimed, sitting upright and smacking her forehead, again, on the underside of her desk. She kept her curses to a mutter this time, her healing touch soaking up the pain. ¡°I have got to find a better place to sleep.¡± Xavier was nowhere to be seen, and Milly¡¯s fears were confirmed when she grabbed the note he had pinned to their cubicle wall. ¡°Heading out to hunt. Left you to sleep. Stay safe.¡± ¡°Stay safe?¡± she scoffed, ¡°It was you who had to be saved yesterday, not me. Twice.¡± She knew why he had gone on his own, and why he had chosen not to wake her up. He didn''t want to share the experience. For fuck sakes, Xavier. You''re going to get yourself killed. She tore the note in half in her frustration. She had gone her whole life without having anyone to care about. It was always just her. The emotions that came with worrying about someone else were strange to her, and she didn''t like it. It was more than just worry. Milly felt abandoned. Xavier had taken her under his wing yesterday, and they had fought alongside one another. Today, he did not even bother to wake her up. Her anger at that reality drowned out the worry for his safety that had been building. ¡°You¡¯d better return tonight, Xavier, so I can give you a piece of my mind,¡± she declared to the empty cubicle. She got to her feet, knees popping in protest, and reached for her black hoodie draped over her cubicle wall. It was ragged, blood stained, and still damp, the tear in her midriff steadily growing as the fabric unwound bit by bit. She felt like she was watching her comfort blanket disintegrate before her eyes and she could not bring herself to put it on again for fear it would disintegrate entirely. She picked it up and put it in her inventory. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can get those blood stains out of you later,¡± she whispered, as if to an old friend on their last legs. ¡°And someone around here must have a sewing kit.¡± Milly realized she was standing in her cubicle wearing only her bra. She saw two of her coworkers, Amir and Kenji from accounting who shared the cubicle across from her, staring. She quickly ducked behind the cubicle wall, blushing and embarrassed. Thankfully, they were the only two she saw. The rest of the floor was empty. Where had everyone gone? ¡°Keep your eyes to yourself, guys,¡± Milly scolded, surprised at her sudden willingness to speak up. Muffled apologies came from across the aisle, followed by animated whispers. Milly rolled her eyes. She opened her inventory and pulled out the moon and stars dress she had taken from the orb last night. Rain had insisted on it. ¡°I keep spare clothing in the shop. But you need something else to wear besides that hoodie. It¡¯s about to fall apart,¡± Rain had insisted, leaving no room for Milly to argue. She unfolded the dress gently with a sigh. She had never worn a dress. Dresses were expensive, and you wore them to fancy parties or on dates. Milly did not go to parties. She did not date. She went to work, road the bus, and slept in her apartment, and that was it. "I guess I don¡¯t really have a choice,¡± Milly conceded to herself. ¡°Unless I want to walk around in my underwear all day.¡± She focused on the dress. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you do anything other than look fancy,¡± she whispered, watching as a tiny screen above the dress appeared.
The Gown of Moon and Stars Imbued with essence of the goddess Oracle Benefit: Increases the wearer¡¯s magic and agility by 5 Benefit: Additional attributes will be revealed as the player grows stronger Warning: The Gown of Moon and Stars was not created for the Contest. May causes errors as the Contest progresses. Do you wish to resize the gown?
Milly gawked at the screen. Xavier had mentioned that items to boost a player¡¯s power were common in games like this. The ring on her finger proved that was true, yet this was one a whole different level. Yet the gown was not meant to be part of this Contest, and Milly suspected the same was true about the memory orb from last night. There''s something going on behind the surface of this Contest.I can either play by its rules, or play in its cracks.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Resize the gown,¡± Milly answered, deciding to take the risk. As the gown stretched and grew, Milly stripped off her filthy jeans, stashing them in her inventory for later. She peeked around the corner of the cubicle to make sure that Amir and Kenji were not watching her ¨C they were still whispering like schoolboys ¨C and a few seconds later the gown was ready. She picked it up, frowned, and slipped it on. It was a perfect fit. Absolutely perfect, as if it had been made for her. It was smooth as silk, falling halfway between her knees and ankles so it did not bundle around her feet. There were slits on each of the sides along the legs, giving her freedom of movement without a single bit of constraint. The moon and star pattern shimmered as the dress flowed around her. It rose up to her shoulders, the gown dipped low enough to draw eyes without making her feel uncomfortable. Air flowed through the openings in the gown, providing a cooling sensation that would have been beneficial in yesterday¡¯s heat. Milly relished the feeling and wondered if she had been missing out on the joy of dresses all her life. ¡°Now if only it wasn¡¯t white,¡± she mumbled. "White isn''t really my color." The dress started to shift, and its white fabric transformed into black from hem to shoulder, until it looked like she was wearing the night sky. Milly¡¯s mouth hung open. She stared down and smiled despite herself. She twirled in a circle, the dress flowing outward, and she laughed. She caught herself, blushed, and ducked back down behind the cubicle wall.
Please confirm satisfaction with appearance
Milly looked down, smiled, and whispered ¡°Yes.¡±
Appearance confirmed and locked in.
Milly suddenly felt the power flowing from the gown into her. The pool of magic she could sense within her grew larger and more powerful. She felt light on her feet as her agility increased. Milly looked at her office chair and, on a whim, leapt onto it. The chair rolled from the sudden momentum, but Milly stayed on easily as it skidded across the cubicle, even standing on one leg before jumping back down with a fancy twist. It gave her such a rush. She felt like a gymnast. She looked over and saw Amir and Kenji staring again, this time with mouths hanging open. ¡°What did I tell you about staring?¡± she scolded. They ducked back down with quickly mumbled apologies. ¡°Okay, just one more thing,¡± she said, pulling out the rounded glasses from her inventory. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you are.¡±
The Spectacles of Hidden Design Imbued with essence of the goddess Oracle Benefit: Allows the wearer to observe what should not be seen Warning: The Spectacles of Hidden Design were not created for the Contest. May causes errors as the Contest progresses.
¡°Another one with an error,¡± Milly whispered. There was no option to resize the glasses, so she simply put them on. They were large, too large for her face, but they held firmly on her nose. The world seemed sharp and crisp when she put them on, and Milly realized she might have been near-sighted for her whole life and never known. She hadn''t been to an optometrist before. She waited for something else to happen but nothing did. Perhaps they only worked when I''m around something hidden or when there was an enemy nearby? ¡°Okay, Milly,¡± she instructed herself. ¡°Be brave. Day two of the Contest. You have a lot of work to do.¡± She left her cubicle, strolling past Amir and Kenji with as much attitude as she could muster, and headed for the elevator. As she waited for it to arrive, the gears creaking as it climbed, Milly looked at herself in the distorted metal of the elevator door. She looked¡­ well, Milly would not say good. Her hair was still tangled and greasy, her face too fat, the rolls of her stomach still blocking the view of her feet. But the gown accentuated what it should and seemed to hide what she did not like, and the glasses framed her face in a way to give structure to her large face and highlight her hazel eyes. In short, Milly thought she looked acceptable. That was better than she had felt in years. ¡°It¡¯s just the clothes,¡± whispered Milly. ¡°Remarkable clothes hiding an ugly girl beneath.¡± Her mind turned briefly to her depression medication, still sitting in a bottle back in her apartment, and wished she had brought them to work. The elevator arrived, and she dismissed the thought from her mind. When the elevator opened to the lobby, Milly was startled to see hundreds of people packed shoulder to shoulder, crammed inside the inner courtyard and spilling out beyond, everyone straining to get a better view of what was happening within. The crowd was loud, protests and demands shouted into the courtyard, interspersed with the rare helpful suggestion. Volunteers circulated the crowd with clipboards, collecting information about each of the residents of the tower and trying to sort them into groups based on skills. Milly was stuck at the back of the crowd, and jumped up trying to see what was going on. Her new strength and agility gave her a brief but decent view of four individuals seated high up on a makeshift platform in the centre of the inner courtyard, fielding questions and demands from the crowd. Milly recognized the CEO of Acicentre, Jacob Stone, seated amongst them. He was younger than the others, with thick black hair with a touch of grey, though Milly suspected it was dyed to give him a more distinguished look. He had a chiseled jaw and broad shoulders and stood a head above the others at the table and above most of the people in the crowd, giving him an imposing look. He smiled, exuding a practiced charm that made Milly feel uncomfortable. Beside him sat an elderly blond woman with droopy skin in a business suit, who Milly recognized from the late-night commercials as Judy Brass, the top lawyer from the Legal Eagles law firm upstairs. Her eyes pierced the crowd with a contemptuous glare. If Jacob Stone exuded charisma, this woman was a charisma black hole. Milly did not recognize the other two on the platform, but she could hazard a guess. There was a middle-aged woman who leaned over and spoke to a crowd of bureaucrats. Milly assumed she was the most senior manager down on the public service floors. Next to her was a strange old man in a fluorescent green jacket and pink high-top sneakers, who looked like he had sprung from a 1990s commercial and then continue to age. ¡°That would be the EnergyWave CEO,¡± Milly guessed. "I''ve heard he''s weird." Jacob Stone slammed his palm down on the folding table multiple times, until the crowd quieted down. ¡°If you have not met with one of the volunteers, make sure you do so. We need to know what we are working with here,¡± Stone shouted insistently. ¡°And who put you in charge, Stone?¡± whispered Milly, louder than she intended. The man in front of Milly - one of Acicentre''s middle managers - glanced back at her. He whispered something to his neighbour, who began to weave his way through the crowd towards Stone. Oh, this is not going to be good.
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 5 Specialty: Survivor Strength: Base:6 Enhanced: 10 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre) Agility: Base: 6 Enhanced: 11 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Magic: Base: 8 Enhanced: 13 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Talents: Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch Psychic ¨C See the Unseen (#error#*) Equipment-Granted Talents*: See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)
Chapter 11 - The Curse of Office Politics "Office politics: where merit is overshadowed by manipulation." -Unknown The heat rose in her cheeks as she watched the man make his way to her CEO. She had no interest in being the centre of attention. Just the thought of it made her knees weak. ¡°Mils, over here!¡± Milly felt an arm on her shoulder and smiled when she saw it was Rain, bags under her eyes from lack of sleep but otherwise as chipper as she had been last night. Rain led Milly over to her shop. Rain On My Parade¡¯s doors were closed, but it was far enough away from the courtyard that the crowd was thinner here. ¡°Milly, you look gorgeous,¡± Rain exclaimed, casually feeling the silk of the gown, and smiling at her glasses, ¡°I barely recognized you." ¡°I miss my hoodie,¡± Milly mumbled, feeling self-conscious again. It was one thing to tell herself she was not as ugly while wearing this dress. It was another thing entirely to have a friend call her gorgeous. Milly heard the whispers starting to grow to a loud murmur in the crowd, and Milly ducked behind Rain to shield herself from view. ¡°Milly, this dress is perfect for you. Besides, it covers more of you than your hoodie does right now, so stop being so modest. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Milly pointed to the crowd, the whispers steadily growing. ¡°Oh, that," Rain said chipperly. "The bigwigs of all the companies in the tower decided they needed to be the ones in charge during this ¡®emergency situation'', so they convened this town hall. Classic management solution, right? They are surveying the crowd, which I suppose makes sense, and separating people into work groups. They''ve been at it for over an hour. The first decision they made was that everyone should wait in the tower until help arrives.¡± Rain rolled her eyes. ¡°We both know that¡¯s not going to work.¡± ¡°No, its not,¡± Milly agreed, remembering the recorded memory from last night. ¡°Waiting for help is a waste of time.¡± ¡°Yes, it is,¡± agreed Rain. ¡°But with the ''wait and see'' decision made, they''ve created three areas of work - gathering food, cleaning the tower, and management of people and resources. Guess which category the managers ended up in? I¡¯ll give you a hint. You won¡¯t be seeing them cleaning your toilet or out in the terrains harvesting bananas and coconuts any time soon. Oh, that reminds me,¡± Raid said with excitement. Rain opened her inventory and withdrew three bottles of water, a thermos full of Dark Introspection tea, and three roast beef sandwiches. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone see you with those sandwiches,¡± she warned Milly. ¡°Food is already scarce, and people are hungry. People nearly came to blows again this morning when the topic turned to food. Milly whispered a quick thanks, then turned her back to the crowd and unwrapped half of a roast beef sandwich. She shoveled it into her mouth as quickly as she could, eyes closed in ecstasy as the tender meat and soft bread hit her tongue. It was the most delicious food she had eaten in a long, long time. ¡°Om my goff, Rain. Thish is sho good,¡± Milly mumbled as she chewed, savoring the taste. ¡°Thanks. It was an experiment to see if I could bring in a lunch crowd. The benefit of being a butcher¡¯s daughter is I know my cuts of meat and how to cook them. Yesterday was going to be my first day with sandwiches on the menu, but¡­¡± she trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence. Milly finished her last swallow and poked her head around Rain to look at the crowd, the murmurs still growing. ¡°Do they really think they can just wait for help?¡± Rain nodded. ¡°Can you blame them? Fifteen people died yesterday. Another dozen left the tower looking for help but never returned. People have seen the monsters that are out there. The ogre¡¯s corpse is still lying in front of the jungle entrance as a constant reminder. People are scared Milly. They miss their loved ones and they watched their coworkers die. We are lucky more people are not huddled in the offices, praying that this is all a dream.¡± ¡°I know, Rain, I know. But what will happen when they realize no help is coming? Hephaestus said the last contest went on for almost four years, and it was a failure. We need people out there, figuring out what is going on and how to win this thing. We need to be thinking long-term.¡± ¡°A few went out earlier this morning,¡± Rain told her. ¡°One angry-looking fellow marched right past the managers without so much as slowing down. Out the door at sunrise and straight into the prairies. Now that was a determined man. Handsome too.¡± Milly laughed. ¡°That¡¯s Xavier. He¡¯s my friend. And determined is a kind way to describe him. Obsessive may be more accurate. You will have a challenging time catching his eye though, if you think he is handsome.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°I don''t intend to catch anyone''s eye,¡± Rain laughed, then grew more serious. ¡°Are you headed out there too?¡± Milly nodded. The moment she saw that memory last night, she knew she had no choice. Xavier had been right when he was teaching her yesterday. It may be dangerous out there, but sitting back and doing nothing would only lead to an early grave. She had to play the game. They all had to play the game. ¡°You should come with me today, Rain,¡± she urged. ¡°It¡¯s the only way to survive here.¡± Rain looked torn, her eyes flickering between her shop and the increasingly agitated crowd. ¡°These are hungry and desperate people, Mils. I¡­I¡¯m afraid they will ransack Rain on my Parade if I leave it, maybe even take it over. It is all I have left in the world. What would I do if it were taken from me?¡± Rain seemed increasingly torn, mirroring the growing shouts and whispers in the gathered masses. Milly gave Rain her bravest look. ¡°If that happens, then I will help you take it back,¡± she promised, trying to look fearless. Rain laughed, ¡°Well, there are rumors of a beautiful black-haired woman who took down an ogre yesterday and healed the injured. Only a couple dozen people saw her, but they say she took it down with ease. They''re calling her a hero,¡± Rain said slyly. Milly blushed, uncomfortable with the attention. Unfortunately, that attention was about to get her into trouble as the whispers reached a crescendo at the elevated table in the centre of the courtyard. ¡°Excuse me, miss. You, in the black dress,¡± came a call from the table, directed at Milly. The crowd grew eerily quiet, and every face turned towards Milly. Milly¡¯s face grew hot in embarrassment and she tried to hide behind Rain, making herself small. ¡°People here tell me you were one of the many, many people who participated in killing that giant beast in the forest yesterday,¡± Jacob Stone said loudly, cheerful on the surface but with a hard-edge underneath. There was a look in his eye that only Milly could see - a dagger pointed at her heart. ¡°People here seem to think you have all the answers. Why don¡¯t you enlighten us with your wisdom?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t¡­,¡± Milly mumbled, struggling to find her voice as each eye in the lobby was on her. ¡°Come on then, girl, speak up,¡± Mr. Stone urged, emphasizing the word ¡®girl¡¯. ¡°These people believe you know better than us. And we, of course, accept all suggestions on our course of action. So please, tell us.¡± Milly¡¯s tongue felt twisted in her mouth, as if she had been called on in class to answer a question she had never studied with the teacher breathing down her neck. ¡°I¡­I¡­don¡¯t know. We should get out there, I guess and¡­,¡± Milly squeezed out, but it was so faint that no one could hear. ¡°Do you not have an answer?¡± Mr. Stone asked in a patronizing tone. ¡°These are hungry people, and we all need to work together to keep us safe and fed. You must clearly agree with our position on this. I take it we can count on your support?¡± It was not a question. Milly stared into Mr. Stone¡¯s eyes - the eyes of a man who saw her as a threat. A woman who needed to be brought under his heel. Milly had never met the CEO of Acicentre, but she had heard the stories. Stories of a charismatic man who loved power and control, who ruled his company from on high with an iron fist. She had heard rumors of the people who had raised concerns about how the company was run or about unusual accounting errors in the records, who had been shown the door moments afterwards. A man who will do whatever it took to gain and keep power and wealth. That man¡¯s attention was now squarely focused on Milly, a smile hiding sinister intentions. Milly froze, as frozen as she had been when facing that goblin, and could not bring herself to speak. Suddenly, Rain grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the mountain entrance. There were shouts of protest from the crowd, and Milly heard Mr. Stone¡¯s laugher echo across the lobby. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to take that as an endorsement of our plan," laughed Stone. "See, she''s no different than the rest of you. A simple girl who is hungry and scared, and knows that order and discipline will see us through this unfortunate time. Forget her, and let¡¯s continue with our discussion.¡± Milly and Rain emerged into the cool mountain air moments later, the shouts of the crowd fading away as the glass door slammed shut behind them. ¡°Ugg¡­ what a creep,¡± Rain said, disgusted. ¡°He¡¯s been playing dirty politics with that crowd all morning, belittling and minimizing anyone who looks like they might be a threat to their consolidation of power.¡± ¡°Is that what he was trying to do?¡± Milly asked, her face still hot with embarrassment and her knees shaking. She had never had so many eyes on her. So many people who cared what she thought. It was overwhelming. She had lived out of people¡¯s view, in the shadows of society, without attention or expectation for so long. ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Are you kidding, Milly?¡± Rain asked, pride in her voice. ¡°People watched you take down that creature yesterday. They saw your bravery and you inspired them. That means you are a threat to people like Stone, who build power through fear and control. He needed to minimize you. To isolate you. Trust me on this. My father and brothers are all political junkies. I know it when I see it.¡± It felt like the wind was taken from Milly¡¯s sails. This contest was dangerous enough, but now she had to worry about Mr. Stone and the other CEOs on top of it all? It was too much to manage. Milly dragged herself over to a fallen pine log, plunking down hard as her feet seemed to give way beneath her. She felt as if the world was pressing down on her from all sides and she was struggling to breathe. Dark thoughts of lynch mobs and a sinister figure with a dagger at her back crowded her thoughts. Her breath grew rapid, and she felt small, as small as she had felt in a long time. Rain sat next to her, wrapped an arm around Milly¡¯s shoulders, and pulled her into a wordless hug. Milly let tears fall, sobs escaping her throat as she cried. Rain simply held her, until the tears stopped, and her heart had calmed. In the space that followed, Milly grew aware of the cool breeze blowing through her gown. She heard ravens flying through the air. The gentle smell from the great pines above her and mist from distant waterfalls filled her. She stared at the mossy forest floor, traced with gentle trails made by squirrel and deer. It felt peaceful and helped her find her calm again. Milly shot up to her feet. ¡°Rain, your shop! What if they¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my shop, Mils,¡± Rain laughed appreciatively. ¡°You''re more important. If they do anything to my shop, I will pick up the pieces and keep going.¡± Rain smiled, adventure flashing in her eyes. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not going to find new ingredients for my teas by staying in my shop, am I?¡± Milly chuckled at her new friend¡¯s optimism. ¡°No, I suppose you won¡¯t.¡± She stared out at the mountains¡¯ cascading waterfalls and broad valleys, feeling surprisingly calm after shedding her tears. ¡°Come on then,¡± she said, hopping gracefully onto the log with an easy leap. ¡°Let¡¯s go find some adventure.¡± Chapter 12 - To Fight Alongside A Friend "Tough times not only make you stronger, but you grow from those experiences. The same is true with fighting. You have to lean into it." Cub Swanson, Mixed Martial Artist Milly and Rain followed the river that ran up the valley towards the closest mountain. Its peak rose majestically into the air, a cool air billowing down from its peaks and licking at their skin. They followed a well-worn deer trail along the water, which made their travel smooth. Milly continued to scan the forest, looking for any unusual tracks that led into the forest as Xavier had taught her yesterday. Finally, Milly spotted one. A trail of crushed moss and broken branches that led up a trickling stream to a small cave at the base of a rocky outcropping. They moved quietly along the trail, and quickly found what they were looking for. There were five of them - creatures resembling the goblins from the plains, only these were light brown with bark and branches weaved together for armor. Instead of spears, they carried tree limbs as clubs. Despite the physical differences, they had the same sharp fangs and murderous glare plastered across their faces. Camped at the entrance to the cave sheltered on the right by an eight-foot-high slope, they sat lazily around a campfire. Meat was skewered on pointed sticks roasting over the fire, and the camp was filled with high-pitched chirps and grunts as they argued with each other. ¡°Are you sure about this, Milly?¡± Rain whispered nervously, clutching a rusted dagger as they lay in the moss and watched the goblins. ¡°We need to start somewhere, Rain,¡± Milly answered, clutching a rusted spear in her hands. ¡°And this is a pretty good place to start. We can do this.¡± ¡°But how do you know they are¡­¡± Rain began to ask, until there was a snap at the edge of the camp. The goblins hooted in pleasure. The largest one, its weaved armor adorned with tiny skulls, walked into the trees and returned a moment later with a small black squirrel struggling in its grip. Milly and Rain watched in horror as the goblin tormented the squirrel, loosening its grip just enough for the animal to believe escape possible, only to tighten it again just to hear it squeak with fear. It repeated the game over and over, until the squirrel finally stopped struggling. Its fun over, the goblin placed the squirrel¡¯s neck between its sharp teeth and slowly crushed the life from it, the squirrel¡¯s final cries echoing across the camp. Its life ended in a hideous pop as the goblin bit down. It spat the severed head at the smallest goblin, who grunted in protest. Rain gasped, drawing the attention of the largest goblin. Its malicious gaze scanned the trees, and Milly and Rain held their breath, unmoving, until it lost interest and skewed the squirrel''s body on a sharpened stick to roast. Milly glanced at the steep hill that ran along the side of the camp, which led to a narrow ledge overlooking the cave. ¡°Rain, do you think you could climb up that slope, quietly?¡± Milly asked, forming a plan of attack. Rain looked at the slope and nodded. ¡°Yes, I think so. My dad used to take me rock climbing. Why?¡± Milly opened her inventory and quietly placed five spears on the ground. She passed three to Rain. ¡°You¡¯ll be safe up there. Here, take these spears and position yourself on that ledge. I¡¯ll move over to that boulder. When you hear me whistle, jump up and draw their attention. Chuck these spears at them. If you run out, start throwing rocks. I¡¯ll use the distraction to run in and take them by surprise.¡± ¡°Milly, there are five of them. You can¡¯t be down here alone.¡± If this were yesterday, I''d agree with her. But i''m stronger now, and these goblin''s movements seem slow. Almost lazy. We can do this. ¡°I''ll be okay, Rain,¡± Milly assured her. ¡°Xavier and I hunted these creatures all day yesterday and we got this down to an art.¡± Rain looked worried, but slowly nodded and started moving to the slope. Milly watched as she ascended, wincing at every shifted stone that dislodged along the way. It was a few minutes before Rain was in position. Milly¡¯s heart raced. For all her bravado, she still felt the fear within her, but she was learning to hide it. Rain gave her the thumbs up, the three spears laid at her feet. It was time. Milly stayed low and quiet, moving behind the boulder only a few paces from the closest goblin. Milly whistled, and Rain popped up with the first spear in hand. ¡°Hey, goblins. Look up here,¡± Rain shouted as she hurled the first spear at the closest goblin. She gave a squeal of success when the spear struck its shin. The goblin gave a yelp of pain, and ripped the spear from its leg with a look of shock and hate in its eyes. Milly dashed from cover, a spear in each hand, and closed the distance to the nearest goblin. She caught her first target by surprise, her new strength sending one spear straight into the goblin¡¯s chest. She could feel its point shatter the creature''s ribs and pierce its heart before erupting out the other side. Milly let go of the spear in surprise as the goblin fell forward dead, startled by her own strength and speed. The two goblins closest to Milly dashed towards her, clubs swinging wildly. Milly deflected the first club with her bare hand, stopping it in its tracks and pushing it to the side to throw its owner off balance. The impact sent a shock through Milly¡¯s arm but she kept her attention on the enemy. The goblin stumbled sideways, and Milly twirled like a dancer and planted her second spear through its back. Milly felt a mix of elation and guilt as she realized the goblins were no match for her newfound strength and agility. She caught the second goblin¡¯s club with her bare hands, wincing at the sting as it slapped her palm. She ripped it out of his hand and struck it in the head with its own weapon. The creature was thrown backwards and landed a few paces away, its skull crushed. In less than thirty seconds, Milly had eliminated three of the five goblins, their bodies collapsed at her feet. Her breath was heavy with the effort and her stomach queasy from the dead around her, but she choked it down and stepped towards the largest goblin with its armor of tiny skulls. Rain watched in amazement as she saw Milly make short work of the creatures. The goblin that Rain had struck with the spear hobbled over to join the largest to defend against this new threat. Rain shouted a warning to Milly and threw her second spear at the goblin. The spear struck it square in the back. It gasped, blood erupting from its mouth, its hands clawing desperately at the air.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Yes!¡± Rain shouted triumphantly. Rain threw her final spear to finish it, but the goblin collapsed just as the spear landed two feet short. There was only one goblin left. ¡°Ok, just you and me, big guy,¡± Milly muttered as she threw the goblin club aside and drew a rusted sword from her inventory. She was ready to charge when she saw Rain slide down the slope, rusty dagger in hand and nearly stumbling twice on the way down. She reached the ground a few seconds later, on her feet with trembling knees. She gave Milly a sly smile and held the dagger out towards the goblin. The largest goblin was flanked, its head darting side to side with a look of outrage. "Rain! No, watch out!" Milly shouted in warning. The goblin smiled at Milly with vicious, pointed teeth, then turned and charged at Rain, its weapon raised high and ready to bring it down on Rain¡¯s head. Milly ran as fast as she could, sword at the ready, trying to close the distance. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make it,¡± Milly cried. She held her breath as the goblin swung wildly at Rain, looking for blood. Rain stepped carefully to the side and allowed the powerful swing to glide past her. As it stumbled, she buried the blade of her dagger into the goblin¡¯s neck. The goblin collapsed to the ground, its hands clutching at the hole left in its neck. By the time Milly arrived at Rain''s side, it was laying in a pool of its own blood, its death imminent. ¡°Rain, what were you¡­I mean how¡­¡± Milly stammered, astonished. ¡°I had eight brothers, remember? They made sure I knew how to defend myself. I have fought against bigger,¡± Rain said, trying to sound composed, though her voice was shaky. ¡°And I¡¯m a butcher¡¯s daughter. I¡¯ve been handling knives since I was six.¡± She flipped the dagger between her fingers and accidentally dropped it. She picked it up, her face red with embarrassment. ¡°Well¡­ um¡­ good for you Rain,¡± Milly whispered, impressed. ¡°I think you¡­¡± A fist-sized rock struck Milly¡¯s back with a wicked crack. The breath was knocked out of her lungs and she fell hard to the ground, rocks opening bloody cuts along her arms as she landed. ¡°Milly!¡± shouted Rain, rushing over to her side. From the cave emerged a sixth goblin. The monster that towered a foot over either woman. The club in its hands was five feet long and thick, with branches snapped off for makeshift spikes. It was dressed head to toe in hide and its shoulders were protected by a pair of deer skulls. It stepped towards them slowly, cautious but unafraid. ¡°You fucker,¡± Milly cursed, spitting out a mouthful of blood and stumbling to her feet. ¡°You are going to pay for that.¡± She struggled to take more than shallow breaths, piercing pain in her lungs. Suck it up, Milly. You need to finish this. Rain picked up a spear and hurled it towards the monster, but its point bouncing harmlessly off the goblin¡¯s armor. The goblin chuckled, then roared as it charged towards the two women. Milly could feel her heart pounding in her ears. Her mouth tasted of iron. She should be scared. She should run away. But she knew Rain was behind her, and she could not leave her to the mercy of such a monster. She pushed aside the pain and returned the goblin''s hate-filled gaze. I need to finish this quickly. One move. I just needed one move. Milly dashed forward to meet the goblin half way, the cracking fire between them. The goblin swung its massive weapon in a horizontal swing towards Milly. Milly jumped five feet vertically, high enough that the weapon passed under her feet. As she landed, she cleaved her sword through the goblin¡¯s arm. The club, and the arm attached to it, continued its momentum and flew into the fire. The goblin howled in pain and rage, but Milly did not give it time to recover. She spun in a circle, sword moving from ground to sky, and sliced into goblin¡¯s neck. The sword stuck in bone and flesh as it lost momentum three quarters of the way through. Milly let go, and retreated three steps, gasping for breath. The goblin stood in place, eyes staring forward in disbelief. What remained of its severed arm hung limply at its side, blood pooling on the ground below. It fell, and the impact severed the last of the flesh that held head to neck. Milly watched as its head rolled and came to stop at her feet. Rain rushed over to her, shaking and covered in sweat. ¡°Milly! That was¡­you were¡­holy crap, you were amazing!¡± she praised excitedly. She looked at Milly, who swayed on her feet. ¡°Mils, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡­ um¡­ just give me a¡­,¡± Milly said, before she rushed over to the edge of the forest and vomited into the moss. The roast beef that had been so delicious half an hour ago now covered the ground below her as she heaved again, until her stomach was empty. Milly lowered herself to the ground, gasping. She could feel the bruising on her back and the cuts across her arm, and though she had a broken rib. She tried to shut the pain out, as she drew upon the power within her and willed the healing magic to flow. The pain began to slowly fade, though the nausea in her stomach did not. Rain sat herself next to Milly, holding her hand in comfort. ¡°Are you okay, Mils? Was that from your injuries, or because of the goblin head?¡± ¡°A bit of both,¡± Milly replied, trying not to think about it. ¡°I''ll be fine. I just need some time to heal myself.¡± She breathed a shallow sigh of relief as the pain started to fade. It felt easier and faster to heal with the boost to her magic granted by the gown. She could judge her magical reserves better as well. She had energy to fix her broken rib and the bruising on her back, but the cuts on her arm would need to wait. She didn''t want to completely drain herself as she had when Xavier was hurt. Rain sat next to her in silence, holding her hand, as she patiently waited for her to finish. It was a slow process, and Rain kept a watchful eye on the forest. ¡°I got careless,¡± Milly admitted, stopping once she started to feel magical exhaustion settle in. She let the healing fade, wincing from the tightness in her back as she stood. ¡°I forgot to check the cave. If I were with Xavier, he would never let me hear the end of it.¡± ¡°We survived,¡± Rain countered. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the most important thing?¡± ¡°Yah, I guess it is,¡± Milly said, feeling jealous at Rain¡¯s endless optimism. ¡°Rain, I barely survived my first battle. I froze, like a deer in the headlights. The bravery you showed today¡­I¡¯m jealous.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where we start, right? Just where we are right now. Did you see yourself? You were amazing! I can''t wait to be as strong as you are.¡± ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Milly said, willing the battle results screen to open.
Congratulations! You have defeated a Gobin Raiding Party. You have been awarded 100 experience points. You have leveled up! You have received two attribute points and one talent point. Item: Key to Goblin Raid Chest Gold: 20
"What is this?" Milly asked, opening her inventory and pulling out the key. It was the length of her hand and made of rusted iron. ¡°Hey, I got one too!¡± Rain said excitedly, holding her own key with excitement. ¡°And it said I leveled up three times!¡± ¡°That¡¯s incredible, Rain. You deserve it,¡± Milly said as she put her attribute points into toughness. As the increase took hold, Milly felt her skin grow more resistant, and the pain she was feeling diminished. She felt less tired than she had a moment ago, and the stinging in her legs had lessened. Is that what toughness does? Fuck, that feels good. I should have invested more earlier. She looked up, and saw Rain spinning in circles and jumping around like an agile cat. She wrapped her arms around a boulder and tried to lift it. It didn''t budge. ¡°Oh well, I guess I am not that strong. Yet,¡± she laughed, ¡°But this is incredible! I feel like a whole new person.¡± ¡°Now you just need to pick your talent. There are thousands to choose¡­,¡± Milly started. ¡°Oh, I already did that,¡± Rain said chipperly. ¡°Look!¡± She plopped herself down next to Milly and opened the description.
Nature¡¯s Bounty Grants the player an instinctive knowledge of the alchemic and magical properties of plants and animals.
¡°I was lying in bed last night and thought about what you said last night. About there being tea ingredients out here in the wilds. My talent map appeared as I thought and it showed me this one. It''s perfect.¡± ¡°It is very you, Rain,¡± Milly agreed. Rain held up the rusted key. ¡°So, what do you think we do with these?¡± Milly¡¯s eyes darted to the cave entrance. ¡°Perhaps we''ll find out in there.¡± Chapter 13 - The Witch and the Alchemist "The truth is, the harder you fight, the sweeter the rewards in the end." Mary Kom, Indian Athlete The cave was narrow, only a dozen paces deep, and had a deeply pungent smell that made Milly¡¯s nose twitch in disgust. Animal carcasses, half eaten and ripped apart, were strewn haphazardly across the cave floor. Against the back wall, covered in discarded antlers and entrails, was an unadorned bronze chest. ¡°Oh, that''s gross,¡± Milly said. ¡°Do we really need what''s in there?¡± Rain laughed and, without missing a beat, grabbed a hunk of fur off the ground and swept the entrails off the top of the chest. ¡°I think being a butcher¡¯s daughter might have prepared you perfectly for this contest,¡± Milly teased. Rain kicked aside the desiccated carcass of a squirrel and inserted her key into the lock. There was a rhythmic hum, and the key dissolved into dust. With a click and a hiss, the lid popped opened. Rain looked inside. ¡°What the heck is this?¡± She pulled out a leather-bound briefcase engraved with a myriad of plants and animals in fine silver. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous,¡± Rain whispered. Milly knelt beside her as Rain slowly unraveled the thin bronze coils and eased open the case. Inside were a dozen glass bottles, each a different size and shape with a unique stopper for the top. Rain gently grasped the one shaped like a frog and pulled it out. ¡°They are so adorable,¡± she cooed. ¡°but what are they for?¡± ¡°Perhaps that will tell you,¡± Milly said, pointing to a small leather-bound book in a small pocket on the underside of the lid. Rain withdrew the book. ¡°A Beginner¡¯s Guide to Alchemy,¡± she read, cracking open the weathered cover. The pages inside were covered with instructions, sketches, and recipes, creating step-by-step instructions for how to create simple potions from various plants and animals. ¡°It¡¯s like brewing tea, but magical,¡± Rain whispered, eyes shining with delight. As Rain scrolled through the pages, a screen appeared in front of her.
Talent Book: Alchemy (Beginner) Prerequisite Talent: Nature¡¯s Bounty You may learn the talent ¡°Alchemy (Beginner)¡± Do you want to learn the talent ¡°Alchemy (Beginner)¡±?
Rain looked at the prompt with excitement. ¡°Of course I do!¡± she said with confidence. The leather-bound book shook in Rain¡¯s hands, and Rain''s eyes turned milky white. She trembled, her fingers grasping the book tightly. The words and sketches began to detach themselves from the page and flew into Rain''s pupils, as if sucked into a vortex that led to her mind. Seconds later it was over. The book was blank. Every word and symbol had been absorbed by Rain. She stopped trembling, and the milkiness in her eyes faded away.
You have learned the talent ¡°Alchemy (Beginner)¡±
¡°Milly, it¡¯s incredible,¡± whispered Rain, her eyes flickering back and forth as if reading words that Milly could not see. ¡°I can see it in my mind. Sleep draughts, nausea elixirs, and here¡¯s one for the common cold. Is that an explosive? What the heck is Essence of the Shrieking Mushroom?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure we will find out eventually. Now, what do I do with my key? You already opened the chest.¡± Milly held up the rusted iron key, and they jumped as the lid of the bronze chest suddenly slammed shut. They heard the lock click back into place and a gentle hum emanate from its depths. ¡°You don¡¯t suppose¡­,¡± Milly wondered, as she inserted her key and watched it dissolve. There was a click, and the lid popped open. Milly peeked into the chest. Inside was a round, wide brimmed hat with a long-pointed top and a bronze buckle on a purple ribbon encircling the base. It was decorated with glistening stars and moons that perfectly matched her gown. Milly drew it out slowly, a look of confusion on her face. Rain burst out laughing. ¡°Oh my god, Milly. That¡¯s perfect for you,¡± she snorted between giggles. ¡°It¡¯s a witch¡¯s hat,¡± complained Milly, holding it by the point as if it were filthy. ¡°It looks like it''s part of a Halloween costume. Why would it give me this?¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s consider the facts,¡± Rain said, trying, unsuccessfully, to sound serious. ¡°You''re wearing a black gown that resembles the night sky. The ring of your finger has an embedded skull. Your hoodie has a pentagram on it. You¡¯ve got this whole goth girl thing going for you, and¡­¡± Rain took a dramatic pause. ¡°You can use magic! I don¡¯t think you need the hat for people to think you''re a witch!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a goth,¡± Milly mumbled, still holding the hat away from her. ¡°I mean, not really. I couldn''t afford the clothes. But I guess¡­maybe¡­¡± Milly focused on the hat.
Milly¡¯s First Witch¡¯s Hat Yer a wizard, Milly Benefit: Increases the wearer¡¯s magic by 2 Benefit: Grants Talent ¡°Reanimate Rodent¡±
¡°Oh, gross. Gross, gross, gross. Do I have to use it?¡± Milly protested. ¡°Yes!¡± exclaimed Rain. ¡°Put it on. Put it on.¡± Milly sighed and slipped the hat onto her head. It was a perfect fit, the conical hat curling back comfortably into a half-moon shape. ¡°And¡­¡± Rain said expectedly. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me.¡± ¡°Every talent is an advantage, right?¡± Rain insisted. Milly gave a deeply reluctant groan and shifted her gaze to the desiccated squirrel that Rain had kicked. She felt the invisible magic inside her spiral out towards the carcass. The squirrel carcass began to move, twitching its skeletal legs back and forth as if waking from sleep. It pulled itself upright, and Milly gasped as its head snapped towards her, empty eye sockets gazing sightlessly forward. The squirrel of matted fur and cracked bone sat there unmoving, watching its witch. I can feel it in my mind. It''s faint, but it''s there - skittering around like nails on a chalkboard.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Milly shivered. ¡°Make it do something,¡± Rain said, circling around the squirrel, utterly fascinated. ¡°Maybe you should wear the hat,¡± Milly whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t like how it feels, or how it''s looking at me.¡± ¡°It is literally called ¡°Milly¡¯s First Witch¡¯s Hat, Milly. If you don¡¯t like it looking at you, tell it to look somewhere else.¡± ¡°Um¡­Mr. Squirrel, can you¡­,¡± Milly did not have to complete the sentence. The squirrel responded to her thoughts. It turned and walked away from Milly until it reached the wall furthest away from her. ¡°It¡¯s horribly adorable,¡± Rain said, hands clasped together in delight. ¡°It could ride on your shoulder.¡± ¡°No!¡± Milly shouted, shocked at the very notion. She just wanted the squirrel to go away. The squirrel collapsed into a heap against the wall, and its bones turned to ash. ¡°At least we know the talent works,¡± Rain said, disappointed. ¡°I could feel it in my head,¡± Milly said, trying to forget the sensation. ¡°I don¡¯t like rodents. Not since¡­not since my first night sleeping beside a dumpster when I was sixteen,¡± Milly shivered at the memory. Rain didn''t pry. She just threw a comforting arm around Milly''s shoulders and squeezed. ¡°Well, I¡¯m proud of you for trying, Mils. You are the bravest woman I know.¡± Milly looked up at her, surprised. ¡°I¡¯m not brave,¡± she mumbled. Rain gave her another squeeze and stood up. ¡°Sure, Milly, sure. Now, should we get out of here? I want to see what other trouble we can find.¡± * * * Ten minutes later they were back along the river, headed north down the wide valley. They made slow progress, but Milly did not mind. She giggled as she watched Rain scurry from plant to plant, picking leaves and stems with abandon and stashing them in her inventory. ¡°This Nature¡¯s Bounty feat is amazing Milly,¡± she exclaimed for the third time in as many minutes, ¡°Look, this plant here with the purple flowers? It can be brewed into tea that improves sleep. And these stems can be pressed into a poison that temporarily paralyzes someone. I''d had better not mix those two up. Oh, this one can be brewed into a drink three times stronger than coffee. My customer''s will love that, though I''ll need to figure out the overly bitter taste.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, Rain,¡± Milly laughed, picking her way carefully over roots and rocks, her own talent screen floating in front of her. She had been agonizing over her decision, unable to choose from so many remarkable options. It felt overwhelming. ¡°Did you pick one yet?¡± Rain inquired, popping her head up behind the transparent screen and causing Milly to jump in surprise. ¡°Damn it. No, I haven¡¯t decided yet. If anything, I¡¯m more lost than I was five minutes ago,¡± Milly admitted, frustrated. Rain gave a mischievous grin, and moved to Milly¡¯s side to gaze at her talent map. She looked into Milly¡¯s eyes and smiled. ¡°You should change your approach. Do not worry about all the options. Think about what challenges you have and see if anything will help you fix them.¡± Milly looked at her friend in surprise. ¡°Rain, that¡¯s¡­kind of brilliant.¡± ¡°I give lots of advice as a barista. It¡¯s like being a bartender, only people are sober. Usually.¡± Milly chuckled, ¡°Ok. Problems¡­ challenges¡­ Well, we are stuck in a Contest where death is around every corner. That seems like a big problem.¡± ¡°Maybe a smaller problem? I don¡¯t think there is a talent for ¡®win the Contest¡¯ located in there.¡± Rain watched the screen for a moment, but it didn''t move. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡± Milly started counting problems on her fingers. ¡°No food. No supplies. Every other minute I just want to fall apart and cry.¡± ¡°Do the first two worry you?¡± asked Rain, playing devil¡¯s advocate. Milly thought about it. ¡°Well, we know there is food out here. We have seen the bananas and coconuts around the tower and animal paths in this forest. I saw buffalo in the plains and I¡¯m sure there are fish in the ocean. I spent three months homeless on the streets after I ran away from my foster home and always managed to find something to eat. At least we have a roof over our heads and the bounty of nature at our doorstep. We will struggle to feed eight hundred people, but I think we can fend for ourselves.¡± ¡°And feeling like you are going to fall apart?" prompted Rain, concerned. ¡°I¡¯m off my meds,¡± Milly said, feeling ashamed. She had never told anyone about her medication. ¡°I have depression. I''ve had it for years, but my doctor is trying to get me to try non-pharmaceutical management.¡± ¡°Maybe there is a talent to help you with your depression?" Milly considered this for a long while, but finally dismissed it. ¡°No, I¡­ how do I put this? I¡¯m battling depression, but I¡¯ve lived with it for so long that the fight has become part of me. If I use this system to make it go away, it would feel like¡­ I don¡¯t know. Cheating? Or like I had given up? That probably sounds stupid.¡± ¡°Can you manage it off your meds?¡± Rain asked without judgement. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Milly responded tentatively. ¡°Honestly, it has been so crazy these past two days that I haven¡¯t sat still long enough to really think about it.¡± ¡°Then perhaps this isn''t the time to use a talent point on it,¡± Rain concluded. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my eyes peeled for any plants that might help replace your medication, and you can always use a future talent point for it if it comes to that.¡± There was one other problem on Milly¡¯s mind, so fresh that she hesitated to raise it. ¡°Mr. Stone,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯m scared of what will happen when I go back to the tower. He made me feel so small. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll try to use me. Or turn people against me. He has so much power, and I have so little.¡± Rain stopped walking and stared at the majestic mountain peak before them. She looked to Milly, adorned in her midnight dress and witch¡¯s hat, and smiled. ¡°This is office politics 101, Milly. People like Mr. Stone prey on weakness. They belittle people to make themselves seem big and eliminate those who do not fall in line. If he sees you as weak, he will target you. You need to show him your strength. Show him you are not to be messed with. Show him he will be in for a world of pain if tries anything like that with you.¡± ¡°And how exactly do I do that?¡± Milly asked. ¡°I''m not strong. Not like that.¡± Rain looked skeptically at Milly. ¡°Yes, you are, Mils. I just watch you decimate a party of goblins. But strength is about more than simply being physically strong. Lots of strong people are taken down because they are passive, unknown, or alone. You need to create a story of strength that is spoken from the mouths of every person at the tower.¡± ¡°And just how exactly am I to do that?¡± Milly asked, overwhelmed. ¡°You already are,¡± Rain said, pointing to Milly¡¯s gown and hat. ¡°People saw you take down that ogre. You have healed some of them. Lean into it!¡± As Rain spoke, Milly¡¯s talent window shifted, zooming in to the top left corner of the map to the section entitled ¡®Witchcraft.¡¯ ¡°But I¡¯m not a witch!¡± Milly protested. Rain burst out laughing. Her enthusiastic giggles echoed down the valley. ¡°You could be. It''s perfect. You''ve got the clothes. The gloomy disposition. The long, black hair. You can create undead rodents and kill ogres. Build the legend! Even Jacob Stone would not mess with the Witch of the Castle of Glass. ¡°The Witch of the Castle of Glass?¡± ¡°Has a nice ring to it, doesn¡¯t it?¡± It all felt a bit much, but Rain was glowing with delight and Milly did not have any better ideas. ¡°Okay,¡± Milly said, hesitantly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give it a shot. But I don¡¯t think anyone will be convinced.¡± ¡°Fake it until you make it,¡± Rain recited. Milly sighed and scanned the witchcraft section of the talent map. The branches were vast, but only five beginner talents were currently available to her ¨C earth, wood, metal, fire, and water. The rest were obscured until their prerequisites had been met. ¡°Pick something flashy,¡± recommended Rain. ¡°The Witch of the Castle of Glass needs to be flashy.¡± Milly thought for a long moment and settled on fire magic, believing it would be the most versatile. She locked it in, and felt the knowledge enter her mind, the power of her fire flowing from the same pocket of magical energy where healing came from. It felt warm. It felt powerful. Milly stretched out her palm, pointed at a fallen log, and tapped into the power. Her hand became encased in blue flame, pleasantly warm. She formed in into a ball in her palm and thrust it forward at the log. The ball of fire flew forward and struck the target with a loud crack. Pieces fractured as it exploded, and moments later there was a gaping hole where it had struck, the wood along the edges of the hole lit with glowing embers. ¡°Now that will get Stone¡¯s attention,¡± whooped Rain with excitement. Milly looked at her hand, completely untouched by the fire. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± she whispered. ¡°This is what it can do at beginner level? What kind of contest is this?¡± ¡°Are we ready to find some more adventure, Witch Milly, the witchiest witch that ever was?¡± Rain asked, giving her a deep bow. Milly laughed. ¡°Lead on, Rain. Let¡¯s see what other trouble we can find.¡± ¡°Oh, we should find a dead rat for you to reanimate. You need a familiar,¡± Rain demanded. "All witches have familiars." ¡°No rats!¡± shouted Milly, running down the path as Rain chased after her. The two friends continued upriver, laughing, the horrors of the contest forgotten in the moment. ¡°The Witch of the Castle of Glass,¡± Milly whispered as she sped through the woods. ¡°I might grow to like that.¡±
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 6 Specialty: Survival Strength: Base: 6 Enhanced: 10 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre) Agility: Base: 6 Enhanced: 11 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 10 Enhanced: 10 Magic: Base: 8 Enhanced: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat) Talents: Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (beginner) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner) Necromancy - Reanimate Rodent (beginner*) Psychic - See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Equipment-Granted Talents*: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat)
Rain Desjarlais Player Level: 3 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Strength: 8 Base: Enhanced: Agility: 8 Base: Enhanced: Toughness: 4 Base: Enhanced: Magic: 6 Base: Enhanced: Talents: Alchemy - Nature''s Bounty (beginner), Alchemy (beginner) Equipment-Granted Talents*: None
Chapter 14 - The Push and Pull of Power "At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed 10,000 men to guard the past." Maurice Maeterlinck, Belgian Playwright Milly and Rain spent the remainder of the morning in the northern mountains, harvesting plants and growing closer as friends. Twice they crossed paths with small goblin patrols and dispatched them with ease. By the time they returned to the tower when the sun was at its zenith, Rain had reached level four and was full of fire, excited to begin experimenting with her alchemy. ¡°They had better not have trashed my shop while I were gone, or there will be heck to pay,¡± promised Rain as she stood outside the glass doorways leading to the lobby. ¡°It looks like they finished the town hall. The lobby is empty, except for a couple people getting instructed by their Tutorias. Are you sure you will not come in for a break?¡± Milly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m headed back out there. We need food, and I¡¯d rather not risk running into Mr. Stone. Not yet. You take care of your shop and keep an ear to the ground. I¡¯ll stop by for a cup of tea when I get back tonight.¡± Rain chuckled softly and pulled her new friend into a tight hug. ¡°Be careful out there, Mils.¡± Rain released her and headed towards the doors, but turned back before she entered the lobby. "Remember. Be flashy!¡± With that, Rain went inside the tower, leaving Milly standing alone underneath the shadow of the mountains. Milly felt the chill of the cold breeze blow across her gown. She was alone again, and the familiar silence she had once taken comfort in now seemed hollow. These past two days had given her a taste of friendship, and it shined a light on the emptiness that she had experienced in her life until now. ¡°You have friends now, Milly,¡± she told herself. ¡°Don¡¯t fuck it up.¡± Milly walked along the perimeter of the Castle of Glass, watching the hustle of activity happening around it. There were dozens of people outside, though few seemed willing to go more than a hundred paces from the lobby. A somber mood permeated each one, their expressions filled with loss and grim determination. In the forest around her, people were collecting fallen branches of pine and willow and used rusted iron axes to cut them into manageable pieces before carrying them to the prairie. There, away from the tower, another group was using the wood to assemble a pyre. The bodies of the dead lay gently beside the pyre, three more added to the fifteen casualties from yesterday. Milly walked past the group with gentle steps, but several looked up and were shocked to see her walk by. By the time she turned the corner into the rainforest, she had left behind growing whispers. ¡°Just ignore it, Milly,¡± she whispered, feeling her face growing red. ¡°Remember what Rain said. ''Rumors and stories are powerful things.'' I just wish being the subject didn''t make me so uncomfortable." The rainforest to the south was hopping with activity. Two middle-aged women with clipboards - the Carthage twins from the 11th floor - directed eight teams that scurried around the terrain. The closest team to Milly used a makeshift pole with a dagger tied on the end to cut down several bunches of bananas. Heaps of bananas, mangoes, papaya, and a half dozen fruits that Milly did not know were piled alongside the doors to the lobby, where the twins were making detailed records of thier haul. A smaller team was moving the fruit into the lobby after it was catalogued. Milly peeped through the glass and saw that they had opened the storefront of Tower Two, which, remarkably, had a functioning walk-in fridge. Another team was cleaning the space, as thick dust covered the floor and shelving. A third manager with a clipboard, who she did not recognize, directed the workers at the storefront. Milly smiled, until an elderly man with a limp turned away by the storefront manager. ¡°James, you need to work to get fed. If you want food, you need to make yourself useful,¡± the manager said, and the man limped away, dejected. ¡°Not your fight, Milly,¡± she whispered, but the man¡¯s hungry and desperate face only renewed her anxiety about Mr. Stone and the other CEOs assuming positions of authority in this new world. One of the Carthage twins walked up to Milly and gave a polite but firm cough to draw Milly¡¯s attention. The woman gave her, and her outfit, a disapproving glare. ¡°Excuse me, Miss. I am Ms. Edna Carthage, designated manager for Rainforest Gathering. Which work team are you assigned to?¡± Milly frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not on a work team.¡± ¡°All employees must be part of a work team if they wish to have access to food and the tower¡¯s facilities,¡± Edna said, bureaucratically. ¡°Can I have your name please, so I can add you to a team?¡± Milly looked at across the rainforest, then back to the hungry man that had been turned away from the storefront. She took a deep breath. Be brave, Milly. Find your own path. Don''t let them own you. ¡°No. I don¡¯t wish to be part of a work team,¡± Milly said, her voice only shaking a little. Edna raised an eyebrow. ¡°What? Who is your employer? I will be reporting this to your CEO, who may decide to deny you access to your workplace because of your non-compliance.¡± The woman had turned to a fresh piece of paper and was furiously jotting notes. ¡°You¡¯ll be sleeping outside if you do not comply.¡± Milly¡¯s blood boiled. The CEOs are denying access to the only shelter people had, just because they were not following their orders? That''s terrible. Rain was right. The CEOs aren''t afraid to flex their power. I can''t be afraid to show mine. Edna was writing words like ¡®insubordinate¡¯, ¡®dressed like a witch¡¯, and ¡®non-compliant¡¯ furiously on the page. Milly had an idea. Milly tapped into her magic, focusing on the paper, and snapped her fingers. It went up in flames. Edna jumped back with a yelp and dropped the clipboard to the ground. The page of notes on Milly was reduced to ash, leaving the other pages untouched. ¡°I¡¯m not employed by any of your CEOs,¡± she stated, trying to sound confident and calm. ¡°And I don¡¯t believe anyone else at the Castle of Glass are either. Not anymore. So you¡¯ll forgive me if I do not accept their opinion on where I can sleep at night.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Milly stalked away, swaying her hips, and adjusting her witch¡¯s hat, leaving Edna behind with her mouth hanging open in utter shock. Half the work teams stopped what they were doing and stared, and murmurs spreaded as Milly rounded the corner into the eastern ocean. Once she was out of sight, she leaned against a nearby palm tree and gave a massive sigh of relief. Her heart was pounding, her hands were clammy, and sweat beaded on her brow. It was a small act, but a big step. For the first time in a long while, Milly felt proud of herself. She rested against the palm tree until she calmed down, staring out at the ocean and listening to the cries of the gulls in the air. The warm breeze was such a contrast to the cold from the mountains just around the corner, and she relished the heat on her skin. This world was miraculous, and despite its nature, Milly let herself enjoy its beauty for the moment. ¡°When it¡¯s cooked, you must bring the meat to the second tower storehouse,¡± came a demanding voice from further down the beach, interrupting Milly¡¯s peace. ¡°Those are Judy¡¯s orders.¡± Milly glanced over. The voice came from a young woman wearing a bright green skirt and black top, blond hair tied back in a simple ponytail. She carried a clipboard like the Carthage sisters but lacked their intimidating presence. She stood over three men who looked the worse for wear. They were digging a pit in the sand and lining it with wood and stone - a cooking pit for the dead boar beside them. ¡°Hana, we don¡¯t give a shit about Judy Brass'' orders,¡± came a dismissive response from a skinny man with a torn dress shirt and bloodied trousers. ¡°If the managing partner of Legal Eagles wants meat, she can come down and wait in line like everyone else. We are not going to be a part of their plan to horde food as a means of controlling us.¡± ¡°She¡¯s your boss,¡± exclaimed Hana desperately as the situation spiraled out of her control. The man swung his arms in a circle. ¡°Really? Did she buy all this land? Did she buy the Castle of Glass? Last time I checked, she has got as much authority here as I do.¡± ¡°We need order,¡± Hana begged. ¡°Everyone must work for food. It will be chaos if we don''t have rules.¡± ¡°Rules? You mean control, not rules. Her control. You go tell your boss we don''t have any interest in playing by her rules. Or the rules of the other CEOs. We will feed everyone we can.¡± ¡°But¡­ you can¡¯t¡­ she¡¯s the boss!¡± stammered Hana. The man ignored her and resumed building the firepit in the sand. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Elmer. She won¡¯t stand for it,¡± threatened Hana as she stalked back to the lobby. ¡°You know better than anyone what she''s is like when she''s angry.¡± Elmer just laughed as the doors closed behind Hana. Milly strolled over, relieved she was not the only one fighting back. ¡°Looks like a few people are trying to keep the Tower fed,¡± Milly said, passing Elmer the next stone from the pile stacked next to him. He took it without looking at her, distracted, and gently placed it with the others. ¡°If you are wanting some boar, miss, you will need to wait until tonight. It will take a while to¡­¡± Elmer looked up and trailed off, his eyes fixed on Milly¡¯s outfit. ¡°You''re¡­ you¡¯re the one who took down that monster yesterday.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ well, it was a team effort,¡± she said, uncomfortable with the recognition. ¡°I saw her spear that thing through the eye,¡± said the second man who was preparing the carcass for the spit. ¡°It was a hell of a throw. Thank you for what you did. Anthony and Phil - the men that thing killed - they were good men. They should never had tried to be heroes.¡± His voice rang with a hollowness carved out by grief. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, I guess,¡± Milly said shyly, not knowing how else to respond. Her eyes drifted to the third man, laying on the ground with his shirt off and a thick bandage across his midriff. ¡°Is he alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± said the man, but he hissed in pain as he tried to sit up. He fell back down with a weak, frustrated laugh. ¡°Billy got slashed by the boar before we took it down,¡± Elmer said as he glared at Billy. ¡°And he will be fine if he just holds fucking still.¡± ¡°Here, let me help,¡± offered Milly. She knelt beside the man and peeled back his bandage. The gash was deep and it still bleed, which made Milly concerned. ¡°We did the best we could,¡± explained Elmer apologetically. ¡°The first aid kits were the first things the CEOs horded. ¡®To preserve them for emergencies,¡¯ they said, as if Billy¡¯s stomach being gashed open wasn¡¯t an emergency. I had to trade my watch just to get that bandage.¡± Milly laid her hands above Billy¡¯s wound, and the blue light of Healer''s Touch surrounded them. The men gasped in surprise. Milly focused on the wound and it began to close, little by little, until it was red and swollen and no longer posing a danger. ¡°There. It will take a while to heal the rest of the way, but that should keep it from getting infected,¡± Milly said as her healing glow faded. The men stood there, mouths open in disbelief. ¡°How¡­ how did you¡­,¡± Elmer stuttered. ¡°Magic, I guess,¡± Milly answered with a shrug. She didn''t elaborate, recalling Rain''s advice to be mysterious. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know what to say to that,¡± Elmer stammered. ¡°If you ever need anything from us, just ask. We owe you.¡± Milly tried to smile sweetly at the men and failed miserably. Based on their sudden grimaces, her smile came across more sinister than sweet. Roll with it. Witch of the Castle of Glass, remember? Elmer threw the last piece of kindling into the pit. ¡°At the very least, we will save you the best piece of boar tonight,¡± he chuckled weakly. ¡°Once we figure out how to get this fire started.¡± Milly opened her palm towards the pit of wood and stones and summoned her fire. Her hands encased in flame, and her fire shot towards the pit. The fire crashed against the stone, and moments later the fire was crackling, ready for the boar. The men leapt back, startled, eyes wider than ever. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Milly said, trying to sound nonchalant. ¡°For starters, why don¡¯t you tell me where you found the boar.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ well, honestly, umm¡­¡± Elmer started. ¡°Milly.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Milly¡­ to be honest, Milly, we didn¡¯t find it. There was a woman with us when we left the tower. Long red hair and drop dead gorgeous, with an attitude to match.¡± Milly didn¡¯t like where this was going. ¡°We were searching for food up the north side of the beach and she spotted the boar''s tracks in the sand. Just in front of a rocky outcropping shaped like an arrowhead. We got the one boar, but Billy was hurt and we had to come back. She¡­ she wouldn¡¯t listen and wanted to keep hunting. We had to head back without her.¡± There was shame in Elmer''s words, and Milly could see the concern in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll go look for her, Elmer,¡± Milly said, and he gave a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you. We''ll owe you twice.¡± ¡°And I plan on collecting,¡± Milly promised, turning and walking towards the beach. She left the men wondering what she meant by that, as the crackling fire added a new rhythm to the beach. Milly steeled herself, looking to the north. A gorgeous woman with red hair and an attitude to match? There''s only one person who fits that description. ¡°Calista, what the hell are you doing?¡±
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 6 Specialty: Survival Strength: Base: 6 Enhanced: 10 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre) Agility: Base: 6 Enhanced: 11 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 10 Enhanced: 10 Magic: Base: 8 Enhanced: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat) Talents: Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (beginner) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner) Necromancy - Reanimate Rodent (beginner*) Psychic - See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Equipment-Granted Talents*: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat)
Rain Desjarlais Player Level: 4 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Strength: 8 Base: Enhanced: Agility: 8 Base: Enhanced: Toughness: 6 Base: Enhanced: Magic: 6 Base: Enhanced: Talents: Alchemy - Nature''s Bounty (beginner), Alchemy (beginner) Equipment-Granted Talents*: None
Chapter 15 - The Unexpected Provider "Man''s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself." Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher The afternoon sun shone brightly in the sky and reflected in the crystal waters of the sea. Milly walked along the shoreline, watching the gentle waves crash rhythmically into the white sand beach. She danced out of the way of a wave that nearly reached her shoes, and giggled with child-like delight. She watched as a tiny crab scurry back to the waters and flocks of colorful birds gliding on the breeze. Milly felt relaxed, as if the waves were washing away her anxieties, if only for a moment. Milly followed Elmer¡¯s sandy footprints north, away from the teams of players scattered around the tower, picking up coconuts or searching for crabs, mussels, or other sea life that had been left behind by the receding tide. ¡°Not enough to feed the whole tower,¡± Milly said, watching them work. ¡°Even with the fruit from the jungle and Elmer¡¯s boar, it is not nearly enough. What will the CEOs do if they cannot keep them all fed?¡± Milly¡¯s stomach growled at the thought, and she pulled out another roast beef sandwich from her inventory. It tasted as fresh and delicious as it had this morning. She finished the last bite of her sandwich when she saw the landmark that Elmer had described. A rocky outcropping stretching into the ocean from the shore, so narrow and flat that it could have been mistaken for a man-made dock. Milly stared out at the archipelago of islands dotted across the ocean¡¯s horizon. Someday it might be used as a dock. We are not going to swim to those islands. The world around her seemed incalculably vast. Milly walked out to the tip of the natural dock and sat at its edge, taking off her worn sneakers and dipping her feet into the cool waters. She stared at the small fish that swam beneath its surface and giggled when one broke from its school to swim over and nibble her toes. ¡°Just trying to stay alive, aren¡¯t you fishies? Trapped in a vast ocean with dangers all around you, being watched by someone you cannot comprehend.¡± Milly glanced back at the tower, at the players scurrying about like bees around a hive. ¡°I know what that feels like.¡± Milly withdrew her feet from the ocean, and watched the water droplets fall off her toes before she put back on her shoes. The school of fish had scattered at her movement, leaving only the one that had nibbled her toes. ¡°Just you left, huh? All alone? I know what that feels like too.¡± Milly felt her thoughts start to grow darker, the waves crashing against the rock now sounding more menacing than comforting. She tried to shake it off, thrusting her feet into her shoes. ¡°Go away depression,¡± she mumbled to herself. ¡°I have no time for you right now.¡± As usual, it did not listen, and she headed back to Elmer¡¯s trail. The footprints in the sand led away from the ocean, into the dunes and reedy grasses just beyond the outcropping. Scattered trees, gangly and squat, littered the area, and Milly plucked one of its fruits. ¡°Olives?¡± Milly wondered, placing it in her inventory to show Rain. She was about to reach for another when a familiar shout reached her ears. ¡°Dammit,¡± Milly spat, the olives forgotten. ¡°What the hell is she doing?¡± Milly ran forward into the grass, only to crash head-first into Calista, knocking both of them off their feet. They lay next to each other, Milly¡¯s head spinning. ¡°Ow¡­watch it you blockhead,¡± Calista scolded before she saw Milly. ¡°Mil-dead¡­um¡­Milly, what are you doing here? Why are you dressed like a witch? Why¡­¡± There was a rumble from the grass, growing closer quickly. Calista¡¯s eyes flashed with alarm and she grabbed Milly by her shoulders without warning. ¡°Roll!¡± Calista cried, and she pulled Milly forward with surprising strength, wrapping her in her arms and rolling across the sand just as a giant boar erupted from the grass and charged through where they had been moments ago. Milly landed on her back hard, the wind knocked out of her. Calista jumped to her feet and positioned herself protectively above Milly. Calista looked down and gave her a confident smile, before pulling a spear and wooden shield from her inventory. The shield looked like it was on its last legs. The boar circled in the sand and charged at them once again. Milly tried to scramble backwards, aiming her palm forward to strike the boar with fire, but Calista was in the way and her vision was fuzzy. ¡°Calista, move! I need a clear¡­¡± The boar closed the distance fast, snorting angrily. Calista did not move. In the last moments before the boar struck, Calista held her shield forward and yelled ¡°Barrier!¡± A pale-yellow light encased Calista¡¯s shield, expanding down to the sand and until it was as wide as Calista¡¯s shoulders. Calista braced for impact as the boar, shocked at the sudden appearance of the shield of light, slammed headfirst into it. Milly heard a vicous crack as the boar collapsed. Calista thrust her spear around her shield as if she were a Spartan warrior and stabbed the boar in its side. It gave a panicked squeal and escaped into the grass, bleeding from its side and head. Milly looked up at Calista from her prone position. Calista was covered in sweat, which, of course, made her glow in the sunlight. Unlike the kind of sweat I get. The stinky, greasy kind. Calista¡¯s frilled blouse had been torn in three places, showing more skin than Milly would ever dare show. Her tight black leggings were worn as well, covered in mud and sand and holes in both knees. Her crimson hair was a tangled, yet still attractive, mess filled with bits of grass and branches. ¡°Milly, quick! We can catch it,¡± urged Calista, holding out a delicate hand towards Milly. Milly stared at Calista¡¯s outstretched hand in disbelief and suspicion. This was Calista, the woman who bullied and belittled her in the office. Milly had no idea what to do, dark thoughts occupying her mind. Why on earth did I even try to find her in the first place? I must be out of my mind. This woman hates me. Calista interrupted Milly¡¯s spiraling thoughts. She reached down, grabbed Milly¡¯s hand, and pulled her to her feet. Milly couldn¡¯t help but notice how soft Calista¡¯s hand felt in hers but dismissed that uncomfortable thought as quickly as it came. Milly tried to find her voice. ¡°What the hell are you doing out here, Calista?¡± she demanded. She felt an anger leaking into her voice, born from months of Calista¡¯s mean and offhand comments that sought to make her feel small. Yet underneath the anger, Milly remember that this was also the Calista whom yesterday had been brave enough to fetch the spear that saved her life. ¡°Well¡­umm¡­,¡± Calista stuttered, taken back by Milly¡¯s anger. ¡°People got to eat, right? I mean¡­ you¡­ I¡­ I guess¡­¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. An awkward silence settled between them, each at a sudden loss for words. It was Calista that broke the silence, in the most unexpected way possible. ¡°You inspired me yesterday,¡± Calista blurted out, stringing the words together into an unintelligible jumble. ¡°I¡­ what?¡± said Milly, confused. What the hell? This is Calista, the bitch of the tenth floor. She doesn''t say things like that, especially to me. ¡°You inspired me,¡± Calista said, trying to slow down. ¡°Yesterday. You saved my life, Milly. I thought¡­ I figured¡­ I just wanted to do something to help too.¡± ¡°And you decided to hunt boars?¡± Milly said with disbelief. This ditzy woman who always teased me. Who manipulates people into doing her work. Who wears the skankiest clothing she could get away with. She''s hunting? The juxtaposition of the Calista that Milly knew and the woman standing before her could not be further apart, and it made her head hurt. ¡°My¡­ my father is¡­ was ¡­ a hunter,¡± Calista replied softly, eyes down and staring at the sand. ¡°He used to take me on these elaborate hunting trips as a kid. Bow hunting, trap lines, tracking. All that traditional stuff. Boars were his favorite to hunt because they were so smart. He used to come up with all kinds of ways to hunt them.¡± Calista knelt and picked up a small, rounded stone, and tossed it absentmindedly into the grass. ¡°When I heard those guys talking about hunting for food, I asked to join. Its safer in a group, you know. I mean, I am not an idiot.¡± ¡°You could have fooled me,¡± Milly mumbled under her breath, but somehow her anger was starting to feel forced - as if out of a sense of obligation to herself rather than present reality. Why does it feel so dirty to be angry with her, when this woman has been miserable until yesterday? She knew the answer in an instant. Because yesterday was a lifetime ago. ¡°But one of the hunters got hurt and they headed back,¡± Calista continued, oblivious to Milly¡¯s growing internal dilemma. ¡°They were bad at hunting anyways, and their complaining and moaning kept scaring away the boar. Honestly, it was more dangerous to have them around. So they left and I stayed. I had my shield, so I thought I would be fine.¡± ¡°You leveled up and got that talent from hunting boars?¡± Milly asked, jealous. She nearly died fighting goblin to get her first talent point. ¡°No. I¡­ I got it after you killed the ogre,¡± Calista said. ¡°I guess I did enough to earn my first level. At least, that¡¯s what my Tutoria said.¡± ¡°Hardly seems like a fair split of the work,¡± Milly complained. ¡°But I guess the spear did save my life, and I¡¯m glad it got you started.¡± Calista gave an embarrassed laugh, glancing in the direction the boar had escaped. ¡°Umm... can we¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, I guess so,¡± Milly agreed reluctantly, thinking about the hungry people at the tower. ¡°The more food we have, the better off everyone will be.¡± Calista stepped into the grasses, and beckoned Milly to follow. They fell into a tactical silence, Calista choosing their path carefully. It was only a few minutes before they came across the giant boar lying in a mudhole, bleeding profusely from its side. Its tusk fractured from the blow against the shield, and its breath was labored. It could do little more than raise an eye in their direction when they emerged from the grass. ¡°Poor thing,¡± whispered Calista, standing up straight and walking over to the boar. She raised her spear. ¡°But people need to eat.¡± She thrust the spear through the boar¡¯s side and into its heart. The boar¡¯s last cry rang across the grass before it was silenced forever. ¡°You are good at this,¡± Milly acknowledged, impressed. ¡°My dad was one of the best,¡± Calista said. She gave a soft sigh that spoke of deep regrets and opportunities wasted. ¡°Have you ever wanted to be someone else, Milly?¡± Calista asked, kneeling beside the boar. ¡°I¡­ suppose so?¡± Milly asked, suspiciously. She had wished for that every day of her life, though she was not about to tell Calista. ¡°I had an epiphany last night, after you saved me from the ogre,¡± Calista said, half to Milly and half to herself. Calista pulled a knife from her inventory and absentmindedly sliced across the boar¡¯s throat to make sure it was dead. Milly was both impressed and nauseated. ¡°You see, I was the mean girl in high school. In every stereotypical way possible. Second string cheerleader, dating football players, bullying the weak girls, flirting with teachers to get a passing grade. I stopped hunting with my dad because girls like that don''t hunting. They sit up all night, talking about boys and sending awful texts to people who don''t deserve it.¡± Milly listened awkwardly, uncertain if she wanted to hear this. It was easier to think of Calista as the mean girl with no redeeming qualities who could be hated without a second thought. She did not want to admit that Calista might have her own problems and regrets. ¡°I hated myself,¡± Calista admitted, opening her inventory and grabbing the boar by the legs. ¡°I looked in the mirror every day and saw only my flaws. And I started seeing only the flaws in others. Then my dad got sick and¡­ well¡­ it just became easier to be the mean girl.¡± Calista pulled on the boar¡¯s legs until it touched her inventory screen. In a flash the boar vanished, becoming an icon on the screen. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ really clever,¡± Milly admitted to herself, impressed with Calista¡¯s understanding of the system. Only being impressed with Calista also did not fit well in the role Milly had assigned Calista in her mind. A role that was fracturing with every word Calista spoke. ¡°And then I graduated, and it turns out that being the mean girl can apply in the workplace too. So, that''s who I stayed. But you get trapped in the clich¨¦ quickly, and a year later you realize you peaked in high school and your life is just a downhill slide to irrelevance after that.¡± Calista finished with the boar and walked over to Milly. ¡°And you are telling me this because¡­?¡± asked Milly cautiously. ¡°Because I was the mean girl to you. Because I was a miserable bitch, and I know I made your life worse to make myself feel better. And you saved me despite that. The ogre was running over to kill me, and you threw yourself in its path. You almost died to save me.¡± Calista was ranting now, her face growing red and her words seeming to flow from her without thought. ¡°I guess I am telling you because I want to change. Because you inspired me to change.¡± Milly did not know what to say. She had never inspired anyone. She had never done anything except exist next to other people¡¯s lives, in the background and of no consequence. ¡°I was going to tell you tonight, once I worked up the courage, but then you ran into me. Literally. I don¡¯t want you to forgive me. But maybe a fresh start?¡± Calista held out her hand, eyes determined. But there was something more there. Desperation, as if her future rested in Milly¡¯s answer. Milly stared at Calista¡¯s hand for a long while, weighing her options. There was a part of her, a big part, which cried out for her to say no. the part that wanted Calista to feel like she had felt these past months at Acicentre. To leave her alone in this world, a victim of her own making. As she stared at Calista¡¯s hand, manicured nails now cracked and encrusted with blood and sand, Milly saw herself within Calista. A woman with a difficult past, who hated who she was, and whose world had been ripped asunder. A woman trying to begin anew. The Witch of the Castle of Glass persona was not just about Milly protecting herself. It was her chance to become someone she actually liked. That small thought grew, until it filled her mind and led to a simple question. Who would I be if she denied others the chance to change too? Milly looked up into Calista¡¯s blue eyes and nodded. ¡°A fresh start,¡± she agreed, shaking her hand. She saw Calista¡¯s face light up with such happiness that it made Milly¡¯s heart skip a beat. She had never seen a happy Calista before. She looked lighter, like a weight had been taking off her shoulder. Before she knew it, Calista had pulled her into a tight hug. ¡°Umm¡­ yes¡­ well, what now?¡± Milly asked awkwardly. ¡°I was going to drop off these boars with Elmer. Then I was thinking about exploring along the beach. This was the last boar I could find in this area, and I need to locate new hunting grounds. Do you¡­ want to come with me?¡± Calista asked tentatively. Milly had been intending to explore further down the coast anyway. ¡°I guess so. That sounds¡­wait. Boars. As in plural? As in more than one? How many did you hunt?¡± Calista opened her inventory. ¡°Counting this one? Umm¡­ six. Though two are just piglets. It''s not enough for everyone. Even with rationing, it will only feed half the tower for the day.¡± Six boars. Milly could not believe it. ¡°Calista, that is amazing. Do you know what kind of difference this will make?¡± Milly thought about the CEO¡¯s efforts to control the tower by controlling the food, and how much this would put a dent in their immoral plans. She looked at Calista with a growing respect as they walked back to the tower and delivered the boars to Elmer. Their first boar roasted over a gentle fire on a spit and filled the air with succulent aromas that made Milly¡¯s mouth water. Milly saw more than fifty people gathered around the spit in a rough line-up as they waited for it to cook, even though it would not be ready until long after the sun had set. Elmer¡¯s mouth gaped as Calista dragged out four more boars and the two piglets and laid them beside the fire. ¡°You¡¯ll need more roasting pits, Elmer,¡± said Calista. ¡°But seems like you¡¯ll have some help with that.¡± She pointed at the waiting crowd, laughed, and started walking back towards the beach without waiting for Elmer¡¯s response. Milly followed beside her. ¡°By the way, I love your new dress and glasses, Milly,¡± Calista said as they strode away from the tower. ¡°You look beautiful.¡± Milly gave an awkward laughed, and turned away so Calista did not see her blush. Chapter 16 - The Iron Grip of Hierarchy "When authority is total, so too is the madness of the man who declares it, and the potential for abuse of power." Rick Wilson, American Author ¡°There, on top of that sand dune. See the tracks? That is a perfect spot for hunting.¡± Calista placed another X on the map she was sketching in her notebook. ¡°That makes five potential hunting grounds and four fishing spots. I don¡¯t suppose anyone in the tower is an avid fisherman that keeps a fishing pole in their office?¡± ¡°I doubt it, Calista,¡± Milly said with a chuckle. ¡°The nearest lake was fifty miles away.¡± ¡°Nonsense, Milly. I bet Mr. Fredrickson is a fisherman. He seems the type.¡± Calista¡¯s voice grew deep, trying to imitate Mr. Fredrickson. ¡°After a hard day in the office tormenting my employees and banging my secretary, I like nothing more than to avoid my wife and escaping to the lake to fish, where I can contemplate how to be an even bigger dick tomorrow.¡± Milly giggled. In the three hours they had been exploring, Milly had learned two things about Calista. First, Milly was amazed at just how much Calista could talk about nothing at all. A rock that looked like a celebrity¡¯s head. A bay that would be perfect for swimming. Whether or not pineapple was an appropriate topping on a pizza. Calista did not mind filling the space with endless pointless topics. Second, even more surprising to Milly, Calista had a strangely delightful, almost nerdy, sense of humor. A sense of humor she had never let anyone at work see. It felt like a special gift that Calista was giving Milly, a glimpse into the real Calista she hid behind the thick walls of the mean girl. As the afternoon wore on, Milly was surprised at how much she enjoyed both hidden aspects of Calista. The pointless topics and strange humor were the perfect counter to Milly¡¯s quiet thoughts. It was simple, carefree nonsense. For all her fears of Calista, Milly found her easy to talk to, and the conversation flowing between them organically. As the sun dipped into early evening, Milly found herself sitting next to Calista on a boulder overlooking the sea, watching the tide rolling in. Calista munched happily on half of Milly¡¯s last roast beef sandwich. ¡°You know,¡± Calista started, swallowing the last bite. ¡°This place isn¡¯t so bad.¡± ¡°You mean if we ignore the hunger, deaths, monsters, and constant danger?¡± Milly said skeptically. ¡°Yah, you know, if we ignore those things¡­,¡± Calista said, feeling like she just put her foot in her mouth. ¡°Sorry Milly, that was a stupid thing for me to say.¡± Milly stared down at the water, the reflection of the witch staring back. She was smiling. Milly could not remember the last time she had glanced in a mirror and seen her own smile. ¡°It¡­ could be worse,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°And it¡¯s not like we have a choice, so we might as well find what happiness we can.¡± She recalled the memory from the beach. Four years. The twelfth contest had lasted four years, and it had failed. The sooner we accept that - accept this new reality - the greater our chances for survival. The easier it would be for us to build a new life. And maybe I won''t be alone. ¡°Calista,¡± Milly asked, ¡°you don¡¯t sound like you want to go home.¡± Calista shifted uneasily on the boulder. ¡°Well, yesterday was rough. Did you know I nearly died?¡± "I seem to recall a brave woman rescuing you," Milly chuckled. Calista grinned at Milly. ¡°But today? Today, I was able to feed hungry people. Today, I spent the day on a gorgeous beach with a wickedly wonderful witch.¡± Calista stared at her own reflection in the water. ¡°Today, I started down the road to becoming someone I actually like. So, I guess I am not ready to go home. Not yet.¡± The witch¡¯s reflection rippled in the water next to Calista¡¯s. ¡°Yah, me too,¡± Milly whispered. They sat in silence for a while, until the edge of the tide touched the boulder beneath them. ¡°We should head back,¡± Calista finally whispered, reluctant to interrupt their time together. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark.¡± ¡°I guess so,¡± Milly said, just as reluctantly. She stood slowly and watched the witch¡¯s reflection fade away. They walked along the beach, the full moon rising behind them and sparkling off the rolling waves, enjoying each other¡¯s company. * * * They spotted the glow from the roasting pits just as the delicious smell of roasting boar reached their noses. Milly felt her mouth begin to water. ¡°That smells amazing,¡± she said. ¡°Yah, they had better have left some for us,¡± Calista added. ¡°Just look at the crowd around the pits. There must be hundreds of people. Oh no¡­¡± The sounds of the crowd reached them. Angry sounds. Panicked sounds. They watched as the orderly line suddenly collapsed, and the crowd rushed forward in desperation. ¡°Elmer will have his hands full. Come on.¡± Calista began to run, and Milly followed close behind. It was chaos. Three of the spits were torn down, the boar laying in the sand as people clamored around it and tore off chunks before running away like vultures. Four men, middle managers from Acicentre, carried two whole boars into the second-tower storehouse. The remaining two boars were surrounded by Elmer and a dozen men and woman desperately trying to re-establish the orderly line so everyone would get something to eat. It took everything they had to simply keep the rabid crowd at bay. Milly and Calista arrived at the edge of the crowd just as Jacob Stone and the other CEOs appeared on the steps of the lobby, calling to the crowd as it rushed forward. ¡°Do you see?¡± shouted Stone. ¡°This is what happens when we do not have rules and order! When you do not follow our directions. People starve. People die! We cannot afford to have freelancers in our midst.¡± The crowd surrounding the two remaining boars pushed forward hard. Milly recognized the Carthage twins in the middle, egging people on. Milly¡¯s blood boiled. The CEOs had planted their people in the crowd, and were sowing chaos from within. This panicked crowd didn''t happen by accident. The CEOs caused this. ¡°Starting tomorrow,¡± Judy Brass added, her voice harsh and unyielding. ¡°Food and access to the Castle shall be restricted to those who follow our directions. For those who contribute and earn the right to our food and shelter. You three,¡± she pointed at Elmer and his two companions. ¡°Will be sleeping in the sand, food for monsters, if you do not comply. As will anyone who risk everyone''s safety because of their selfishness.¡± Stone put a hand on Brass¡¯ shoulder and rose to his full height. ¡°We do this for your own good, you understand," he said, as he used Brass'' harsh words to appear reasonable. "We know how to lead, and we will ensure that we lead you out of this situation. Order keeps your bellies full and our tower safe. Order keeps you alive.¡± The managers in the crowd gave a choreographed cheer that did not stop until the CEOs had turned and re-entered the lobby. The moment the glass doors closed behind them, the managers started prodding the hungry people forward with renewed vigor, and Elmer and his few companions were pressed back to the edge of the roasting pits in the ensuing onslaught.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Calista and Milly ran forward, shoving their way through the crowd until they reached Elmer¡¯s side. ¡°Where have you been?¡± shouted Elmer, his feet nearly falling into the pit. ¡°Those damn managers started a panic in our orderly line. Things went to shit so quickly.¡± ¡°No kidding,¡± Calista said sarcastically, moving in beside him. She retrieved her shield and shouted ¡°Barrier¡±, and the light shield expanded in front of her and Elmer. She gave the shield a small thrust, sending the nearby people sprawling backwards. Milly fell in beside Calista, heart beating wildly. Milly shoved two men trying to break their defensive line with her open palms, sending them flying backwards and knocking over a few more in the process. A cry of alarm went through the crowd at the show of force from the two women. It bought them a few moments reprieve, until Edna Carthage picked up a stone and hurled it towards them. It struck Elmer in the head, and he collapsed to his knees, a bloody gash across his forehead. Their defensive line began to collapse as the crowd rushed forward. ¡°Shit! Milly, we need to get out of here,¡± shouted Calista, fear etched in her words. The world seemed to slow down. Milly watched Calista haul Elmer to his feet, holding her shield and trying to find a way to escape. But they were surrounded, the crushing crowd pressed shoulder to shoulder in a tight ball that grew tighter by the moment. Milly watched as two of them were pulled down, trampled beneath the feet of a crowd that had abandoned all sensibility. Hands fell on Calista¡¯s arm and she shouted in distress. She watched as Edna Carthage leaned over and pick up another stone, her smug face delighting in the chaos she had created. Milly grew angry, as angry as she had ever been. Her blood boiled and her face grew red, her hands clenched into fists at her side. The pool of magic within her erupted into her blood unbidden. Her eyes flashed with fire, twin lights flickering brightly in the darkness. The edges of the crowd stumbled in shock, and Milly thrust her hands forward with palms raised to the sky. Blue fire erupted from her palms and stretched across the sand until it had encircled the defenders, creating a wall of deadly flame. It rose six feet into the air, drenching the area in heat and light. The crowd stopped in its tracks, the closest falling jumping back in shock. Shadows of fire danced across the beach, and the crackle of the flames filled the stunned silence that followed. The crowd had stopped moving, every eye fixed on Milly - fixed on the witch - in utter astonishment. Calista stared at Milly, amazed, until she saw the beads of sweat growing on Milly¡¯s brow, and realized Milly could not hold onto the flames for long. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you people?¡± Calista shouted over the silence, reaching the ears of every person in the crowd. ¡°Are you all complete and utter fools? I know you are hungry. I know you are scared. But look at what you are doing! These people were trying to help you. And you turned on them without a second thought.¡± Calista paused, letting her words sink in. ¡°You should all be ashamed of yourselves.¡± Milly was swaying on her feet now, struggling to keep her eyes open. ¡°We still have two boars,¡± Elmer shouted to the crowd, blood streaking down his face where he was cut and needing to lean on Calista for support. ¡°If you form an orderly line, we can still feed as many people as we can.¡± There were murmurs of disbelief in the crowd, their anger and desperation evaporating in the heat of the flames that rose above them. A few moments later, the crowd broke apart. Some began to form a sheepish line across the sand, though most retreated into the tower, their shame more powerful than their hunger. Though blurred vision, Milly saw Edna turned her back on the crowd and move into the lobby, joined by another dozen instigators. They had accomplished their goal of isolating those who would go against them, even if a few would still be fed Elmer and his crew. The last of the magic inside Milly was expended, and her flames faded away, leaving only the heat in the night air. She collapsed to her knees, her face drenched in sweat. She felt empty inside and was struggling to keep her eyes open. Calista dispelled her shield and knelt beside Milly. ¡°Milly, are you alright?¡± Milly could hear the concern in her voice, but her words were fuzzy, as if Milly were underwater. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed forward into the sand. ¡°Milly!¡± came Calista¡¯s panicked cry, the last thing Milly heard before she lost consciousness. * * * ¡°Why are her eyes like that?¡± Milly heard the words through the fog in her head. She could feel herself laying on something soft, the air around her filled with the strangest scents. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Rain. One moment we were about to be crushed, and the next she was staring down the crowd like a demon, her eyes glowing as she commanded fucking fire. It was incredible.¡± Is that... pride.. in Calista''s voice? This day keeps getting stranger. Milly cracked open her eyes, wincing at the glare from the lights overhead. Her head ached and she felt as if she had been hollowed out, as she had been when she''d saved Xavier on the prairies. She lay on a make-shift bed in the tiny storage room in Rain On My Parade that Rain had converted into her bedroom. Milly groaned, feeling nauseous, and slowly sat up. Milly caught her reflection in a small mirror attached to the wall. Her hazel eyes now shone with a subtle firelight beneath the surface, as if fragments of light were dancing in her pupils. ¡°What happened?¡± she whispered. The conversation stopped in the front of the store, and a moment later Rain and Calista were at the door of the storeroom. ¡°Milly, you¡¯re awake!¡± Calista said excitedly, her words touched with relief. ¡°I was so worried.¡± Rain stepped inside and handed Milly a steaming cup of tea. ¡°Here, drink this, Mils. It is Dark Introspection, with a little added something. Those pink flowers from the woods. It should help you refill your magic.¡± Milly sipped the tea, feeling its comforting warmth flow into her. The tea had a floral touch that it had not before, and Milly could feel the emptiness inside begin to trickle back to life. It was not much, but it took away the empty ache within. ¡°Thanks Rain,¡± Milly whispered, grasping the cup in both hands. She was still so tired. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy this afternoon.¡± ¡°So have you, it seems,¡± Rain responded. ¡°Making new friends, feeding people, and standing up to a desperate crowd. I know I said to be flashy, Mils, but you really know how to put on a show. The Witch of the Castle of Glass will be on everyone lips tomorrow.¡± Calista raised an eyebrow at Milly, who looked away and took another sip of her tea. ¡°The Witch of the Castle of Glass?¡± Calista asked, turning to Rain. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Office politics,¡± answered Rain, smiling. ¡°A message to CEOs who try to belittle or control her. A message I am sure they heard loud and clear tonight.¡± ¡°Will that work?¡± Calista asked, skeptically. ¡°Based on how they control the crowd, they are building an iron grip on the tower. They might target her because of it." ¡°I guess we will know soon,¡± answered Rain. ¡°Let¡¯s hope they have bigger things to worry about than a couple women who don¡¯t want to follow their rules.¡± Milly finished her tea, her eyes growing heavy as the exhaustion threatened to claim her again. ¡°You should get her upstairs to bed,¡± Rain suggested. ¡°Mils, you might want to keep a low profile while you are in the Castle until we know what the CEOs will do. You should change into your hoodie. I doubt the managers will even recognize you without the witch¡¯s outfit.¡± ¡°Okay, Rain, I understand,¡± Milly yawned, and Calista and Rain left to let her change. They came in a couple minutes later to see Milly leaned up against the wall sleeping soundly, her gentle snores filling the room and only one arm in the hoodie. The two women smiled, and Calista finished weaving Milly''s other arm into the hoodie before she picked her up gingerly in her arms and carried her to the elevators. ¡°You need to be careful too, Calista,¡± Rain said as they waited for the elevator to arrive, the blue glow of the tutorial screens lighting up the darkness. ¡°I¡¯m sure the CEOs will have you in their sights now too.¡± Calista looked over at Rain on my Parade, its windows fogged with steam from the various brews Rain had been experimenting with that afternoon. ¡°I don¡¯t think it is just Milly and I who need to be careful, Rain. You and Elmer and the others from the beach. Anyone who chooses to follow their own path in this contest rather than submitting to their control is at risk.¡± Rain sighed. ¡°As if we didn''t have enough problems just trying to survive this contest. Now we must worry about this too.¡± She looked at the unconscious Milly as the elevator arrived. ¡°I don''t know anyone else here. I only met Milly last night. I want to protect her. I want to keep her safe.¡± Calista looked down at the woman sleeping in her arms and smiled. ¡°Me too, Rain.¡± She stepped into the elevator and hit the tenth floor. ¡°We¡¯ll need all the allies we can get. It was good to meet you.¡± ¡°You too, Calista,¡± Rain said as the doors closed. Calista carried Milly through the quiet halls of the tenth floor to her cubicle. The lights were dimmed low and only a few voices carried over the cubicle walls. The full moon lit up the side of the western prairie in a haunting beauty, the stars in the sky above shining brightly. Calista lay Milly her gently under her desk, listening to her softly snore. ¡°Xavier isn''t here,¡± Calista muttered, displeased. ¡°Where the hell is that man? I thought he was her friend. He should be protecting her too.¡± Calista turned to head to her cubicle, but hesitated. She looked at Milly, then at Xavier¡¯s empty desk, and knelt down with her back to Milly¡¯s cubicle wall. She drifted off to sleep, sitting protectively next to Milly to keep her safe. * * * Xavier stepped over the half dozen goblin corpses, the moon lighting up the chest in the middle of their camp. Their blood dripped off the edge of his sword and onto the soil below as he knelt and inserted the key. His own blood dripped from half a dozen wounds he had taken since he left the tower at first light. He started to curse himself for not bringing Milly along so she could heal his wounds, but he shook the thought clear of his mind as soon as it arrived. If she were here, he would have to split the experience from the monsters with her, which would slow him down. She was better off remaining in the tower. He liked Milly, and she had a useful talent for healing. But yesterday proved he needed to do this alone. He knew she got more experience than he did from killing that ogre. The crowd had cheered for her. And did she think he''d not noticed that skull ring on her finger? That could have been his. That should have been his. He would not let Milly be stronger than him. He must be the best. He would bring her along later, once he was so far ahead that she could not catch up. Xavier opened the lid of the chest and smiled. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a good start.¡± Xavier threw the dark cloak over his shoulders and strode into the darkness towards the tower, leaving the corpses behind. Food for the vultures. Chapter 17 - Beyond Simple Survival "Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory." Sun Tzu, Chinese Philosopher The rumors spread like wildfire in the days following the events on the beach. They spoke of the huntress who fed them, of the alchemist who brewed wonders in Rain On My Parade, and, most of all, of the Witch of the Castle of Glass in the moon and stars dress, who healed the wounded and shot fire from her eyes. Milly did not think the nuances of the last one were worth clarifying. She needed every advantage she could get. The CEOs solidified their grip on the Castle of Glass during that first week. They stationed guards at the Tower One elevator to deny access to anyone who had not joined their assigned work group that day. The Freelancers ¨C Elmer adopted the name from Mr. Stone¡¯s speech as a middle finger to the CEOs ¨C had set up a makeshift camp at the boar roasting pits rather than bow down to their former bosses. There had been talk amongst the group of breaking into one of the empty towers, but the next day they found guards posted outside the elevators to the other towers as well. Yet there was one person the guards never dared to denied access to - Calista, the Huntress, whose growing strength and reputation made a confrontation with her an undesirable prospect. Milly stifled a laugh the first time one of the guards, an eighteen-year-old boy from EnergyWave named Timothy, had tried to stop her. Calista had tapped into her years of practice as a mean girl, and Timothy not only let her through, but he was so brow-beaten that he abandoned his post and joined the Freelancers the next day. Milly, on the other hand, used a more subtle approach to bypass the guards and return to her cubicle every night. She simply changed out of her witch¡¯s clothes and into her hoodie and stared at the floor while they checked the list, mumbling about how there must be a mistake and that she had been picking fruit all afternoon. She would offer them a bunch of bananas as proof, and a few minutes later she would be asleep under her desk, the CEOs ignorant that the Witch of the Castle of Glass continued to sleep with a roof over her head. The iron fist of the CEOs did have its advantages. The Freelancers - there were about thirty of them in the beginning - had seen how powerful Calista and Milly had become and how it allowed them to stand up to the CEOs. They began to explore the terrains in larger groups, winning battles against outnumbered goblins. Within a few days, most of the Freelancers had received their first talent point, and they had their own healers, magicians, and warriors. Under Calista¡¯s tutelage, a team of six specialized their talents in hunting, each selecting a different but complementary skill. They started bringing in not only boar, but deer from the prairies and elk from the mountains. Billy, the man wounded by the boar, selected a wilderness cooking talent, and soon the air around the Freelancer camp was awash in mouthwatering aromas. Their numbers doubled after that, and the Freelancer encampment ballooning across the beach¡¯s white sand. This started a cold war with the CEOs, who quickly recognized their grip on power depended on outpacing the Freelancers. They started sending their people into the terrains in large groups, and soon had equivalent talents on their side. Those assigned as guards grew stronger and more confident, and people like the Carthage twins strutted around as if they owned the place. Every day, the CEOs headed into the terrains, surrounded by their most loyal followers, to build their own power. But it all came at a cost. In the first week of the Contest, fifty-two of their co-workers had died or gone missing. Despite the separation between the two factions, each night they came together in mourning at the pyre in the prairies to say a few words. Many of the dead were those who were new to their companies, particularly at Acicentre and EnergyWave, without a network of friends to look out for them. Desperate people in desperate jobs, thrown into a desperate situation. Yet the deaths were becoming fewer, as people learned how to navigate the wilderness and grew stronger. Milly watched tonight¡¯s funeral from the edge of the northern forest, her eyes flashing in the darkness. The words of mourning carried across the plains on the warm breeze, though she could not make hear them clearly. She recognized the next body thrown on the pyre. She had worked four cubicles down from her, though she did not know her name. She only knew she joined Acicentre last month after immigrating from Pakistan. ¡°If not for Rain and Calista, that could have been me,¡± Milly murmured. ¡°A lonely and isolated girl in a harsh new world.¡± Milly had the same thought each night, and each night her gratefulness for her two new friends grew. Inevitably, as the funeral wound down and the crowd dispersed, Milly¡¯s mind turned to Xavier, thankful his body was not amongst the dead. She had seen so little of him since that first day in the Contest. She had hoped he would continue to take her along with him, but after the battle with the ogre he had grown distant. Every day since then, he left before sunrise and did not return until well after everyone else had drifted off to sleep.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Usually, he came back injured and woke her in the middle of the night for healing. As the blue glow illuminated their cubicle, she would tell him about the dynamics of the Castle of Glass. He would never talk about where he had been and never asked about her. It was as if that first day, when they had been so vulnerable with each other, had created a stronger wall between them, not torn one down. He would fall asleep quickly once healed, and be gone before Milly woke up. He always stuck the same note to her computer monitor before he left. ¡°Stay at the Castle. Stay safe.¡± Every day, she ignored it. The crackle of the pyre jarred her from her thoughts of Xavier. She turned away from the black smoke rising into the air and gazed up at the great mountain in the north, the moon illuminating its snowcapped peak. For all her worries about Xavier, the nightly funeral also reminded her of the two women that shone like a beacon in her darkness. They had become a tight-knit trio, the secretive third faction of the Castle of Glass. Not under the thumbs of the CEOs but separate from the Freelancers. Their trio was solidified on the fourth night when, over many cups of Dark Introspection, Rain and Milly had told Calista about the memory sphere on the beach. They had shed tears and agreed to stick together for the long haul. Milly kept the same routine each day. In the early morning hours, Rain and Milly would explore the wilderness, collecting a myriad of plants and fungi found within. Each day they would push further out from the Castle, always returning at the sun¡¯s zenith so Rain could open Rain On My Parade and experiment with the fruits of their labors. There was always a line outside Rain¡¯s shop by the time they returned, as knowledge of her potions and her exceptionally strong coffee and robust teas spread throughout the Tower like wildfire. Even the CEOs sent their assistants to secure a supply each day, which meant they were satisfied to leave Rain On My Parade alone and independent. For now. Milly would watch from outside the glass entrance to the lobby as Rain greeted each person in line with a smile and a wave. Rain had managed to achieve her dreams, although in an unexpected manner. Dark Introspection was a massive hit, especially as Rain started to adapt it with the beneficial properties from their foraging. Her bestseller was a tea that promoted healthy sleep and kept away bad dreams, which was the reason for the noon hour line-up. Fear and sorrow still held a tight grip on the tower, and for some, sleep was the only peace they could find. Rain was happy to be able to sell a little piece of mind to those who were weary. Money was pointless at the Castle and the purpose of the gold received from monsters was unknown as there was no way to spend it, so a rudimentary barter and trade system had developed. Food and supplies scavenged near the tower were the lowest value, with increasing value ascribed to supplies obtained further away where the danger was greater. Increasingly scarce items from the Castle itself, often horded away in player inventories, were the most valuable. Scissors, soap, and paper towels were incredibly valuable, and no one would trade a piece of precious clothing for less than a fortune. Rain did not accept payment for her brews. Instead, Rain traded for information, such as knowledge of the dynamics within the Castle and observations from exploring in the wilds. They quickly learned that in the Contest, secrets and gossip were more valuable than any commodity. The smell of roasting venison drew Milly¡¯s attention from the mountain peak to the beach. A delightful laugh floated on be breeze from the Freelancer camp. Calista¡¯s laugh. Milly smiled and started walking towards the camp, her stomach rumbling. She and Calista had grown increasingly close these past few days, and each time they parted for the night Milly found herself a little more excited to see her again the next day. Calista spent her mornings with the hunting teams, teaching whoever wished to learn. It did not matter if they were CEO-aligned or Freelancer, as long as they were feeding hungry people. The hunters treated Calista like royalty, her Huntress nickname well earned. Her efforts kept hunger from tearing them apart, and each day the meals grew in both quantity and variety. In the afternoon, after Rain returned to her shop, Milly would meet up with Calista and the two of them would explore deeper into the wilds. Along the way they would battle the monsters that roamed the wilderness to grow stronger together. They began to learn how each other moved during a fight, and soon they were a united team, with Calista¡¯s shield and Milly¡¯s magic making a powerful combination. They would return in the evenings as the sun set, and join Rain in the Freelancer camp, where Billy would serve the most delicious meals Milly had ever tasted. ¡°Not that I have much to compare it to,¡± Milly told herself as she rounded the corner between the mountain and the beach. ¡°But it sure beats potatoes, ramen, and peas.¡± Rain and Calista waved at her enthusiastically as she came within sight, and she smiled at her friends. ¡°Billy made mussels tonight, Milly,¡± shouted Calista with delight. ¡°One of the teams found a bed of them this afternoon. They are to die for!¡± Milly laughed and ran the rest of the way, relishing the feeling of the wind in her hair and the salty sea air in her lungs. She felt healthy and free, for the first time in her life. Even the dark thoughts in her mind struggled to take hold except in the depths of night when she was alone, curled up under her desk in the tower. ¡°This is not such a bad life,¡± she said, as she plopped down beside Calista, their hips gently touching, and devoured the mussels. ¡°This is not such a bad life at all.¡± * * * In the depth of the Contest, at its very heart, the AI Director watched the players scurry about the Castle of Glass, collecting food and battling against the easiest of adversaries. It watched them laugh and grieve and scheme as the week wore on. It watched as the weakest of the players were eliminated, found unworthy to continue. It watched as hope for rescue was extinguished and replaced with a desire to survive. The Director was happy with the results. The only unexpected incident that had occurred was the memory sphere that had fallen from the sky. It had not been part of the game. It was the designers¡¯ memory - Mother and Father¡¯s memory - but she judged its presense to have minimal impact. ¡°Tutoria?¡± said the Director in a high pitched exclamation. Tutoria popped into being in the small control room. ¡°Hi, Director, you little cutie!¡± The Director rolled their eyes and jumped off the chair at the console. ¡°Tutoria, the players have successfully survived the first stages. It is time for the real God Contest to begin. Bring the first arena online.¡± Chapter 18 - Danger in the Valley "The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." -Socrates Milly sat on the steps of the plains lobby entrance, watching a dozen people tearing up grass and fashioning make-shift cages from branches and vines. A cup of tea and a piece of leftover boar from last night¡¯s supper rested on the ground in front of her, her lunch for the eighth day of the Contest. She took a sip of tea and frowned. It was cold. She placed her hand over the water and focused, her eyes glowing red as she channeled her fire. When she took her hand away, the tea was steaming again. ¡°Perfect,¡± she purred. ¡°This whole magic thing is just wonderful.¡± She had received only one other talent point during the first week of the contest, when she reached level ten two days ago. She had selected earth magic, though she had precious little opportunity to use it yet. Which is why she was sitting on these steps, watching a few resolute people trying to bring a garden into this new world. The public servants from the lower floors of the Castle of Glass were from the Ministry of Agriculture, a mix of policy analysts and field workers. Milly was enthralled by their teamwork and their robust arguments about of proper soil conditions and sunlight levels. Many of the tower¡¯s residents thought they were daft to build a garden when food was so plentiful from the nearby ocean and hunting grounds, but they kept going anyway. They were farmers back home, and farmers needed farms to feel normal again. Milly thought it was clever, and it would help them survive in the months ahead when food around the tower grew scarcer. It was the first long-term plan she had seen. She wanted to help, but despite glances her way from the dedicated crew, none had approached her to talk, and Milly was too introverted to approach them. Beneath the persona of the witch, its still the same Milly. Too shy to put herself out there. As she took another sip of her tea, two men exited the lobby doors behind her and headed for the garden. They strode past without a glance in her direction, clutching clipboards and wearing dirty jackets and ties, as if formality brought authority. Milly recognized them from Acicentre, two men from the eleventh floor who had a reputation for micromanagement and an overinflated sense of entitlement. Milly sighed. She knew where this was about to head. They strode up to the foreman, pointing aggressively at their clipboards and trying to shuffle the crew away from the garden and towards their assigned duties. The foreman, a man not blessed with an ambundance of patience, grew angry, hands clenched into fists at his side. He scolded them - told them they were there with the blessing of their own manager - but the Acicentre managers would not listen. This would come to blows soon if she didn''t intervene. Milly coughed and the middle managers turned at the unexpected sound. They saw Milly - the Witch of the Castle of Glass - seated behind them, casually sipping tea and watching their interaction. Milly smiled and raised her cup in acknowledgement. The men¡¯s faces went white. They stammered something to the foreman that Milly could not hear and quickly walked in the opposite direction, suddenly remembering other business that was far more critical than a couple misaligned farmers. The foreman laughed as they retreated and Milly breathed a sigh of relief. She tried to look outwardly casual, but inside her heart was racing. Silently, she thanked Rain for helping her to build a reputation that served to help avoid such confrontations. ¡°It pays to have the Witch nearby,¡± said the foreman, smiling and tipping his hat to her. ¡°I didn''t want to get into an argument with Jacob Stone¡¯s goons. Ms. Cook sanctioned this. She even plans to come help once her afternoon is clear.¡± Ms. Cook was the most senior manager amongst the public servants. Their representative among the CEOs. If there was a kink in the CEOs'' armor, it was her. Not because she was weak, but because she had different motivations than the others. According to Rain¡¯s intel, she believed that the order the CEOs brought was critical to survival, but she didn''t care about the power that came with the position, only the safety of her people. If that meant aligning with the CEOs, then she would hold her nose and do so, but it was a temporary aliance at best. Alison Cook was the polar opposite of Jacob Stone and Judy Brass, who were growing more controlling each day. They still saw Milly as a threat, though they''d had made no move against her. My reputation is working to keep them at bay, but how long would it last? ¡°You look lost in thought,¡± came a melodic voice from behind her. Milly looked up and saw Calista staring down at her with a gentle smile. She had her long red hair tied up in a bun today, and her frilly blouse was barely holding together after a week of heavy use. She had it tied across her chest like a bikini now, leaving her tanned arms and stomach exposed. Even in this place, in nothing but rags, she still managed to look stunning. Milly stopped looking up at her, her cheeks flushed as her thoughts drifted places she didn''t want them to go. ¡°Just¡­just contemplating how much this place has changed in only a week,¡± Milly said, pointing at the garden. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Calista gave her a broad smile. ¡°I¡¯m always ready for you, Milly. I want to see how far we can push out today. The hunting crew is itching for me to find some new hunting grounds. They are getting tired of the standard fare.¡± Milly laughed. ¡°It''s only been a week, and we have elk and deer now, and mussels and crab from the beach. What more do they want?¡± ¡°Not all of us are used to subsisting on potatoes and peas, pretty lady,¡± Calista said, leaning down and rubbing Milly¡¯s shoulders playfully. ¡°This woman needs variety in her life. Especially when that life is in a death contest.¡± Milly gave her an awkward smile. She felt uncomfortable every time Calista complimented her. When Milly looked in the mirror at night, she still saw the fat, greasy girl pretending to belong. ¡°Come on,¡± Calista said chipperly, reaching down and hauling Milly into the air. Milly gave a playful shriek, flailing her legs and nearly knocking over her teacup. Calista loved to take every opportunity to show off her enhanced strength. ¡°Or do I need to carry you all the way there? I could do it you know.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°As much fun as that sounds,¡± Milly chuckled, imagining herself riding atop Calista¡¯s strong shoulders. ¡°I guess I can walk. Where are we headed today?¡± Calista pointed towards the mountains. ¡°Up there. I woke up with a feeling today. That is where we need to be.¡± ¡°Then lead on Huntress,¡± Milly teased, and she followed Calista¡¯s swaying hips as they headed north. * * * They walked for two hours, avoiding the packs of roving goblins when they could. ¡°They are too easy now,¡± Calista whispered as they let another patrol group pass them by. ¡°I don¡¯t think they help us level up anymore. But their clubs still hurt. It is not worth the risk.¡± Milly agreed. ¡°Xavier said something similar last night while I was healing him.¡± ¡°And how is the colossal jackass lately?¡± Calista asked with sarcastic venom. ¡°Calista¡­,¡± Milly started. ¡°I know Milly. That was my mean girl coming out. But I don''t like how he uses you. He treats you like his personal nurse, not his friend.¡± Milly did not really know how to answer her. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t really know how he is doing. Last night I invited him to join us in our afternoon exploration,¡± Milly started, and Calista frowned. ¡°He didn''t accept. He just said that we would only slow him down.¡± Shesighed. ¡°I think he''s jealous that I have you and Rain as friends now. He is certainly stronger than we are individually, but he grows more distant each time I see him. As if each day claims a little more of the humanity within him and replaces it with an unfillable desire to be something more.¡± Calista nodded. ¡°You know, I kind of understand that.¡± ¡°Understand what?¡± Milly asked. ¡°Wanting to be something more. Wanting to push further, faster, and harder each day. I feel that way too. I¡¯m just not willing to abandon everything else like Xavier has. The man is obsessive Milly. He was obsessive about working out and video games before the Contest, and the Contest made both those obsessions irrelevant. So now the Contest is his obsession. It is all he has left to live for.¡± ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Milly asked, concerned. She had never had a friend in trouble before. Like Xavier, before the contest she had focused only on herself. It was Rain and Calista who made her want to be something more. But Xavier had no one else. No one to help him. ¡°Do you need to do anything?¡± Calista asked. ¡°After all, he might outlive all of us at the pace he is growing. But if you still want to help him, and, honestly, I¡¯m not sure why you would, just keep an eye out for the right opportunity. I¡¯m sure one will come up.¡± ¡°Thanks, Calista,¡± Milly said gratefully. ¡°You are welcome. Now, can we please change the topic? This conversation is too heavy for me. Oh my god, did you see what Judy Brass was wearing this morning? A pink suit with 80¡¯s style shoulder pads and green pants. Either she finally ran out of clothes in her office, or she¡¯s started taking fashion advice from the CEO of EnergyWave.¡± Milly giggled, and they continued their trek. They were deep into the valley now, further than they had ever been. The river flowed rapidly beside them, flowing from the glaciers far into the mountains. It gave the area a coolness that was absent from the other terrains, and Milly saw Calista shivering in her bikini top. She opened her inventory, pulled out her hoodie, and handed it to Calista. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Calista asked, taking the hoodie in her arms, ¡°I know how special it is to you.¡± Milly nodded, and Calista put the hoodie on without hesitation. It fell to her naval, and Calista lifted the front and smelled. ¡°Mmm... smells like Milly,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°You mean smells like sweat and grease,¡± Milly said, embarrassed. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything of the sort,¡± answered Calista. She spun around with an exaggerated flourish, as if she were wearing a prom dress. ¡°How do I look?¡± ¡°Like the world¡¯s most confused goth,¡± giggled Milly. Calista slumped her shoulders, swishing her hair back dramatically and an deep frown on her face. ¡°Life is pain,¡± she moaned, dragging out each word. Then she chuckled, breaking character. ¡°It is really comfortable though. I can see why you like it.¡± ¡°It is, but I don¡¯t wear it for comfort,¡± Milly said, unconsciously resting her hand on her stomach, conscious of the fat hidden behind her gown. Calista saw the dark thought about to enter Milly¡¯s mind. She grabbed Milly¡¯s hand and looked into her fire-touched eyes. ¡°Milly, you are a beautiful woman. Don¡¯t you go thinking otherwise.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Milly murmured. ¡°You... you look really good in the hoodie.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I just?¡± Calista giggled, spinning again. Suddenly she stopped, and turned sharply towards the dense forest ahead of them. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± There was a rough path diverging from the river, leading to a sheer cliff against the edge of the mountain, a large split in the rock that ran far up the side of the mountain, forming a deep cave beyond. It was well hidden in the trees, and if not for their playfulness they would have missed it entirely. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out,¡± whispered Calista, spear and shield in hand a moment later. She ducked down and led the way through the trees. Milly opened herself up to the power within her, feeling it cascade under her skin and settle itself just below the surface. It was easier now, almost instinctual, as her magic grew stronger with each additional attribute point. She felt the flames ready to release from her fingertips and could feel the solid earth beneath her feet ready to be molded. Calista stayed low and led them to the edge of a small clearing filled with short grasses, moss, and assorted colorful flowers. Squirrels scattered on their approach, scurrying up the pines to angrily squeak at the intruders. At the end of the clearing, nestled against a sheer wall of stone that rose up twenty feet into the air, were twin statues standing outside the entrance to the deep cave - muscled men with spear and shield carved in white marble. ¡°We¡¯ve never come across something like this before,¡± whispered Calista, her eyes beaming with a mix of excitement and anxiousness. Milly nodded. ¡°This could be important, Calista. We should get Rain and come back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see what it is first,¡± Calista said, and she crept forward into the clearing. ¡°Calista¡­¡± Milly implored, following her reluctantly. The moment Milly¡¯s foot crossed the threshold, she knew they''d made a mistake. The statues snapped towards them, raised their spears and shields into the air, and crashed them together. The crash of spear and shield echoed across the clearing and into the cave. There was a loud skittering noise from the depths of the cave. The sound of dozens of footfalls quickly growing closer. ¡°Umm¡­ change of plans Milly. Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Calista shouted, grabbing Milly¡¯s had and turning back towards the forest. They crashed against the air as if they had run into a wall, knocked to the ground by the impact. ¡°Ow, fuck, that hurt,¡± Calista shouted. Milly instinctively put a hand on Calista¡¯s forehead and gave her a short burst of healing. ¡°Thanks Milly.¡± Calista reached forward and her hand fell on solid air, as if it had turned to glass. ¡°Milly, this isn¡¯t good.¡± Calista rushed to her feet, pressing her hand against the transparent wall and running along the edge of the clearing. The barrier stretched the entire way around the clearing. They were trapped inside. The skittering grew closer, like an oncoming storm. Calista moved in front of Milly protectively. ¡°Barrier,¡± she shouted, her shield expanding in front of them both. Milly positioned herself behind the shield, as they had done a dozen times before, and let the fire flow into her palms. The flames were stronger now and became easier to control each time she grew her magic. ¡°Milly, help us see what is coming,¡± Calista said, her jaw set, and eyes focused on the cave. Milly released a short burst of fire from her palm and sent it into the cave, illuminating the darkness within. The black segmented body of the monster was over twenty feet long and three feet wide, ending in a razor-sharp forked appendage. Hundred yellow legs moved its body in a wave as it crawled along the side of the cave, dislodging stones that echoed in the cave¡¯s depths as they fell. The segmented centipede body curved up into the air, forming a thick neck that swayed back and forth as it ran. Its crimson head ended in an elongated mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth, with two short pincers for dragging prey into its depths. Intelligent black eyes searched for the source of the fire. The eyes of a hunter, who had spotted its next prey. Milly¡¯s round glasses flashed, startling her, and a screen popped up above the creature.
Challenge Guardian: The Crushing Wave Access to the challenge arena ¡®Arena of Choice¡¯ is restricted to those who defeat the challenge guardian. Difficulty: Phase I Boss
"Oh... shit." Chapter 19 - The Crushing Wave "Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options" Simon Sinek, English-American Author ¡°Milly, now is not the time to hold back!¡± Calista bellowed, bracing her shoulder against the shield as The Crushing Wave erupted out of the cave and headed straight for them at blinding speeds. Milly brought forth her fire until it filled both her palms. Her hazel eyes filled with ember¡¯s glow and she willed the flames to grow hotter. They shifted from blue to bright orange, and she stepped around the shield and hurled the flames forward at the creature¡¯s charging form. The flames struck the creature where its neck met the segmented legs, splashing across its body and leaving burns where it struck. The creature howled in rage and pain, but it continued hurtling forward without slowing. ¡°It¡¯s not going to stop!¡± Milly warned, as the creature collided with the light shield. Calista felt her arms grow numb from the impact. The light shield collapsed, and Milly and Calista were thrown backwards into the wall of air. The creature¡¯s momentum halted, but the wooden shield Calista had once held now lay shattered on the ground at her feet. ¡°Damn you,¡± Calista swore, thrusting her rusted spear up into one of the creature¡¯s segments from where she lay. It pierced its flesh, but the creature did not flinch. It lowered in gruesome head down towards Calista, eyes filled with menace, as if taunting them. ¡°Calista!¡± Milly shouted in a panic. She grabbed Calista by the waist and pulling her out of the way just as the creature¡¯s forked appendage swung around and stabbed the ground where Calista once lay. Milly jumped to her feet, hauling Calista up with her. ¡°Run!¡± They ran as fast as their enhanced speed would take them, covering the distance of the clearing in a matter of seconds, pausing when they reached the sheer wall of stone. ¡°We can¡¯t panic, Milly,¡± said Calista, more to herself than to Milly. Calista pulled two more spears from her inventory, one in each hand. ¡°New plan. Stay back and hit it from a distance.¡± They heard the rumble of the creature¡¯s accelerating footsteps heading their direction, and Calista hurled the first spear as The Crushing Wave was halfway across the clearing. The spear stuck in its neck, piercing through one of its burns, but it continued forward unimpeded. ¡°Damn it,¡± Calista said frustrated, hurling the second spear as Milly let loose another blast of fire. Both struck home, and both failed to slow the creature¡¯s movement. ¡°Move Calista,¡± Milly said, darting along the cliff towards the cave. They weren''t fast enough. The creature swung its body out as they moved, using its momentum to carry forward the forked appendage and striking both women just as they would have reached safety. They were knocked back hard, flying and landing with a sickening thud in front of the statues outside the cave. Milly heard a snap and she struggled to breathe. ¡°Shit. Calista, I think I broke a rib,¡± Milly said breathlessly as she got to her feet. She glanced over, and her heart sank. Calista could not get up. Milly looked down at her and saw a deep slash across her stomach from one side to the other, the edges of the wound turning a sickly green. ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s not good,¡± Calista murmured, staring at the wound, her voice weak. Her head fell back to the ground as her chest began to spasm, as the sickly green of the wound began to seep into her blood. ¡°No. No, no no,¡± muttered Milly, kneeling with hands filled of blue healing magic. But the moment she touched Calista, she knew it would not cure the poison now moving through Calista¡¯s body. ¡°No, please, god, no.¡± she pleaded. ¡°Stay with me, Calista! I can¡¯t lose you.¡± The last sentence came out as a pained whisper that spoke of a truth she had yet to admit to herself. The Crushing Wave turned towards them and started resuming its charge, pincers ready for its meal. Milly made a quick decision. She stood, flailing her arms as she shuffled away from Calista¡¯s spasming body. Fire roared in her hands, growing hotter and hotter until Milly could no longer stand the heat. She threw it at the centipede, striking it in its side. Three of its legs melted away, and the scream that echoed from the creature¡¯s maw rattled off the mountaintops. ¡°Over here, fucker. Here! Here!¡± Milly challenged, readying herself for its charge. She prayed that it would take the bait, so she could draw it away from Calista. It worked. The creature shifted its charge just as it was about to crush Calista, its legs narrowly missing her prone form as they stabbed into the ground. Milly tried not to panic. She held her ground and looking for something, anything, to get them out of this situation. The creature headed straight for her, its mass carving a path of destruction though the clearing. Milly saw it, twenty feet above the clearing resting precariously on the mountain¡¯s edge. A boulder the size of a car, held in place by a narrow lip of stone on a ledge above her. Milly pushed off the ground hard, jumping sideways out of the creature¡¯s path, barely dodging the swing of its forked tail. Run, Milly. Don¡¯t think about how close that was. Just run! She let her instincts guide her as she ran straight for the steep cliff that rose above the clearing. The Crushing Wave turned and barreled forward towards her at full speed, maw open to snatch her as she ran. ¡°Please, let this work,¡± Milly whispered. As she reached the wall of stone, Milly turned towards the creature and pressed her palms to the ground. She channeled as much fire as she could handle, and a flood of flames roared across the surface of the clearing, a foot tall and ten feet long and burning everything in its path. The creature struck the flames, unable to slow down, and it shrieked in pain as the tips of its feet burned one by one. Milly had no time to celebrate. She looked up at the boulder high above but knew in an instant that her magic would not reach it. ¡°I need to get closer.¡± Milly pressed her hands against the rock face. She closed her eyes and focused, quelling the fire within her and bringing forth her new earth magic. There had been precious little time to practice with it, but this needed to work. It must work. I won''t let it hurt Calista. Her fingers sunk into the earth, knuckle deep, and she suppressed her cry of surprise. The earth felt cool against her fingers, firm yet malleable. There was a comfort to it that she had not expected, but she had not time to dwell. She started climbing, one hand over the other, sinking just enough into the stony wall to allow her and her elevated strength to lift her up.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Come on! I¡¯m so close! Keep going!¡± The Crushing Wave broke through the flames and rose up to its full height, front legs flailing in the air, charred and smoking. It leaned its maw up skyward at the morsel scaling the wall, nearly within its grasp. Milly pulled herself up once more, and could sense the ledge above through her fingers imbedded within the wall. She was within range. As the creature¡¯s fangs came within inches of her, Milly planted her feet against the stone and kicked hard, flipping over the snapping maw of the creature. She reached out her arms, channeling earth through one and fire through the other, targeting the stone that held the boulder in place. ¡°Please¡­ please work,¡± she prayed. The stone began to glow, faintly at first but brighter with each heartbeats. The rock began to bend, then flow, and the stone melted into glowing magma. The creature shrieked in frustration as Milly sailed over it, but with burned feet it was unable to stop its momentum before it slammed into the wall of stone. The lava gave way, collapsing down the side of the wall and plummeting onto the creature¡¯s head. For a moment it cried out in pain, until the boulder was dislodged from the mountainside and plummeted onto the creature''s head. It ended the creature¡¯s howls of pain and rage in an instant as its body was crushed beneath its mass. Milly struck the ground hard on her back and she felt more ribs crack. She gasped in pain as she struggled to breathe. She lifted her hand to her head, staring in alarm when she drew it back and saw it covered in blood. Utter silence fell across the clearing. She gave herself two painful breaths before she rolled to her side and pushed herself slowly to her feet, head fuzzy and struggling to stay conscious. The only movement from The Crushing Wave were the spasms of its scorched legs as death claimed it. Milly spared it only a fleeting glance, hobbling over to Calista, her eyes wide open in fear as Calista¡¯s chest spasmed uncontrollably. ¡°Mil¡­ly¡­¡± was all Calista managed to say before the poison reached her limbs and spasming encompassed her whole body. Milly channeled the last of her magic into trying to heal the wound, but it was no use against the poison. ¡°It¡­it doesn¡¯t work on poisons, Calista. I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Milly was panicking now, desperately searching for any way to save her. Calista used every ounce of energy she had left to point a spasming finger at the creature. ¡°Ra¡­in.¡± she whispered, struggling to speak even the single word. Her breath started to become ragged, and her eyes rolled back in her head. ¡°Rain?¡± Milly asked, and she understood. ¡°Rain! I understand!¡± Milly forced herself to her feet, limping over to the creature¡¯s forked appendage. She opened her inventory and pulled out a rusted sword that had seen better days. She lifted the sword with what might she could muster and severed the tip of the appendage. A second swing took a chunk of leg, and a third part of the creature¡¯s body. She moved to its head and collected a pincer. She knelt and scooped a handful of teeth scattered across the ground that the boulder had dislodged. She stashed every body part in her inventory, hoping there was something Rain could use to brew a cure. Only Rain was two hours away, the Castle of Glass long hidden behind the mountains and dense pine forest. Her heart dropped. She collapsed to the ground, hopeless and afraid. The battle victory message flashed in her sight, and it opened unbidden.
Congratulations! You have defeated The Crushing Wave You have gained 12-hour access to The Arena of Choice You have been awarded 800 experience points. You have leveled up. You have leveled up. You have leveled up. You have gained six attribute points and one talent point. Item: Collar of the Victor Item: Waypoint Crystal Gold: 300
Was the AI Director feeling generous? Is it throwing me a bone? Milly quickly allocated two points to toughness and four points to magic as she fumbled through her inventory, pulling out the collar and the crystal and laying them on the ground before her. The toughness dulled the pain slightly, and she felt the magic inside her refill a small amount as the increase took hold. She focused on the items, and descriptions popped up.
Collar of the Victor Nothing shackles a player like endless victory. Benefit: +4 Strength, +4 Toughness
The collar was in the shape of a centipede, round body stretching around her neck, with legs forming decorative lines above and below. The buckle was the fanged head, pincers locking it in place. Milly put on the collar without hesitation, feeling the increased toughness further dulling her pain. ¡°Now the second one,¡± Milly whispered, crossing her fingers. She read it and hope flared to life.
Waypoint Crystal Single Use Item. Why walk when you can warp? Benefit: Transports your party to a previously explored location Hephaestus, the world is very large. The gods will grow bored with watching players walk everywhere. Added Waypoint Crystals to keep Contest flowing. ¨C Oracle
The note was not part of the item¡¯s description. It appeared through her Spectacles of Hidden Design, wavy words written below the standard description. Milly did not spare a moment to think about the implications. She grabbed the Waypoint Crystal, cradling its blue, diamond-shaped form in the palm of her hand as if it was the most precious thing in that world, and staggered over to where Calista lay. ¡°Hang on, Calista. Please hang on,¡± she begged. She embraced Calista in the tightest hug she had ever given, and shattered the crystal between thumb and finger. ¡°Rain On My Parade,¡± she shouted. Milly was pulled into a kaleidoscope tunnel, clutching Calista for dear life, as she tried not to scream.
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 15 Specialty: Survival Strength: Base: 8 Enhanced: 16 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, +4 from Collar of the Victor) Agility: Base: 10 Enhanced: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 12 Enhanced: (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: Base: 18 Enhanced: 25 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat) Talents: Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (beginner) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Earth Magic (beginner) Necromancy - Reanimate Rodent (beginner*) Psychic - See the Unseen (#error#) 1 unassigned talent Equipment-Granted Talents*: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch¡¯s Hat) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)
Calista Gale Player Level: 12 Specialty: Hunting, Mean Girl Strength: Base: 12 Enhanced: 12 Agility: Base: 12 Enhanced: 12 Toughness: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Magic: Base: 4 Enhanced: 8 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) 6 unassigned attribute points available Talents: Shield - Protective Shield (beginner) Combat - Spear Specialist (beginner) Exploration - Improved Perception (beginner*) 1 unassigned talent Equipment-Granted Talents*: Improved Perception (beginner, Huntress¡¯ Scrunchy)
Rain Desjarlais Player Level: 8 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Strength: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Agility: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Toughness: Base: 15 Enhanced: 15 Magic: Base: 8 Enhanced: 8 Talents: Combat - Dagger Specialist (beginner) Alchemy - Nature''s Bounty (beginner), Alchemy (beginner) Equipment-Granted Talents*: None
Chapter 20 - What Doesnt Kill Us "Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy." Paracelsus, Swiss Scientist Rain took a sniff of her latest brew, a mixture of herbs that she hoped would quell Mr. Fredrickson itch. The man was standing awkwardly behind the counter of Rain on my Parade, scratching between his legs.. ¡°It should be ready right¡­. now,¡± she exclaimed. She poured the mixture into a used disposable coffee cup ¨C the new ones ran out yesterday ¨C and handed it to him. ¡°Drink half of this Frank, and then give the other half to Priyanka,¡± Rain said sweetly, ignoring the embarrassed flush on Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s face. ¡°Bring the cup back when you are done. I am running low. ¡°Thanks,¡± replied Mr. Fredrickson. ¡°What do I owe you?¡± ¡°You can tell me the location of that bush that you and Priyanka¡­ um... found today,¡± Rain said slyly, pulling out a hand-sketched map of the area littered with notations and drawing of different plants. Mr. Fredrickson pointed to a tiny cove along the beach. ¡°It was around here. I¡¯m not sure the exact location, but it seems about right.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve catalogued that one yet,¡± Rain said, roughly sketching the plant as Mr. Fredrickson had described it and putting the initials F.F. underneath. ¡°Looks like you and your lady will need to find a new private spot for your activities.¡± ¡°Everyone around here is so damn snoopy,¡± Mr. Fredrickson mumbled as he drank his half. ¡°It¡¯s not like we''re ever going to get home. Might as well enjoy life while we can, right?¡± Rain stayed silent, leaning over to stir another potion currently brewing inside one of her kettles. Such passions were neither her area of expertise or interest. ¡°You know, I think this is working,¡± Mr. Fredrickson said, with a final, satisfying itch. ¡°You can really work miracles, Rain.¡± He looked back at the lobby and, seeing no one, leaned in towards Rain with a conspiratorial tone. ¡°Between you and me, Mr. Stone and Ms. Brass have been talking about the Freelancers. About forcing them to... um... return to the fold, as it were. Alison Cook is against it, but Jacob came downstairs this afternoon with a big smile on his face. I think they are right, you know - the Freelancers do more harm than good - but you might want to warn your friends.¡± Rain raised an eyebrow. The CEOs were escalating their game. It was one thing to limit access to the CEO''s perceived property, but quite another thing to take direction actions against the Freelancers. This was about control, not resolution. Stone and Brass were playing a dangerous game. ¡°Thank you, Frank,¡± whispered Rain appreciatively. ¡°That is more than a fair trade. Now, you¡¯d better get that over to Priyanka or you¡¯ll have hell to pay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already up shit creek,¡± Frank laughed, heading out the door to the elevators. ¡°But the bush was her idea in the first place, not mine.¡± Rain waved at him as he rounded the corner and left her sight, then pulled out a small book to record what he had told her about Stone and Brass. "This would be problematic," Rain contemplated, tapping her pen on the page. Suddenly, a blinding flash of light filled the room, and Milly and Calista materialized above one of Rain¡¯s tables. They crashed through it and onto the floor, Milly clutching onto Calista for dear life. ¡°Milly! Calista!¡± Rain shouted, vaulting over the counter, and kneeling by their side. Milly already had her inventory open and was shoveling grotesque body parts onto Rain¡¯s floor. ¡°Poisoned,¡± she breathed, pointing desperately to Calista in a panic. ¡°Help her Rain. Please. Hurry!¡± Milly¡¯s hands glowed healing blue as she pressed them to Calista¡¯s stomach wound, trying in vain to keep the poison from spreading. Rain looked at the wound, then to the body parts one by one. She grabbed the severed leg, ripped off the claw and collected a few drops of the viscus green fluid within. The foul stench making her gag. She rushed over to the shelves above her kettles. Each was lined with jars of ingredients she had collected from foraging. She pushed them aside one by one as she searched for the right combination. ¡°No. No. No. No. Yes, this one!¡± she uttered, grabbing a stack of faintly violet leaves she had collected from the prairies. She threw them in a cup, ground them with the end of a metal spoon, and poured hot water on top. She waited fifteen seconds, allowing the leaves to heat, then added three drops of the centipede¡¯s fluid. Calista¡¯s spasming grew more frantic, her limbs flailing against the cold floor. Milly¡¯s tears fell on Calista¡¯s chest as she struggled to keep Calista alive, the poison damaging faster than she could heal. ¡°Rain, faster,¡± begged Milly, more scared than she had ever been before. Rain waited an agonizing two minutes for the concoction to be ready as Calista struggled to breathe. She crushed the final ingredient, a tiny shell she found on the beach, underneath her knife blade as she counted down the seconds in her head. When she hit two minutes, Rain dumped the shell into the brew and raced over to Milly¡¯s side. ¡°Hold her still, Milly,¡± Rain ordered, tipping back Calista¡¯s head and opening her mouth. Milly¡¯s pressed down on Calista¡¯s shoulders to hold her steady. Rain poured the potion into Calista¡¯s mouth, stroking her throat until she had swallowed every drop. Milly waited, unbearable moments ticking away as she watched Calista with fearful eyes. Calista¡¯s spasms started to weaken, the green of the poison in her blood fading slowly away as the potion began to work. Calista symptoms lessened, until she lay still in a restless slumber. ¡°She will be alright, Mils,¡± Rain said, laying a hand on Milly¡¯s shaking shoulders. ¡°The potion should remove the rest of the poison over the next few hours. She just needs rest.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Rain, you are a miracle,¡± whispered Milly through short gasps for breath. Rain laid a hand on Milly abdomen, causing Milly to wince in pain. ¡°Mils, you are hurt too,¡± Rain said, as she spotted the blood on the back of her head, ¡°You need to heal yourself first before you start with Calista again.¡± Milly shook her head, and pressed glowing hands to Calista¡¯s injured stomach and channeling her healing. Rain grabbed Milly¡¯s hands and moved them to her own ribs. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a request, young lady. You won¡¯t be any use to Calista if you can barely breathe.¡± Rain lifted Calista gently off the ground and carried her away from Milly. She set her onto the make-shift bed in the storage room. Milly followed with a limp and collapsed into the chair next to the bed. ¡°Might as well turn this place into a hospital, if the two of you keep coming in here injured,¡± Rain said gruffly. She reached for a clear vial filled with bright blue liquid and handed it to Milly. ¡°Here, drink this, Mils. It''s a new recipe. Should help you fill up your magic faster. No, sit back down. Don¡¯t even think about healing Calista until you¡¯ve helped yourself.¡± Milly withdrew hands that had been reaching for Calista and put one on the back of her own head. She grabbed the bottle from Rain with the other, uncorked it and drank. She grimaced as it hit her taste buds. ¡°That¡¯s gross, Rain,¡± she whined, tongue handing out in disgust. Rain took that as a good sign. ¡°I haven¡¯t worked on the taste yet. Right now, it¡¯s just the crushed remains of those yellow beetles we found in the popular copse on the prairies and a rare purple jellyfish the hunters found washed up on the beach.¡± "Beetle and jellyfish juice? Seriously?" Milly protested weakly, but a warmth inside her began to spread. She pressed her hands to her own injuries and focused on healing. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t¡­ she would be¡­,¡± Milly stuttered, tears flowing as she stared at Calista bruised face. ¡°But she isn¡¯t. She will be fine. Now, tell me what happened.¡± * * * Calista woke late into the evening, disoriented as she lay in the storeroom and stared at the ceiling. It took a moment for the events of the afternoon to come back to her, and she sat up with a jerk as she started to remember. She pressed a hand to her stomach, but all that was left of the wound was a swollen, sensitive strip of skin where the cut had been. She looked over and saw Milly sitting upright next to her, eyes closed and snoring softly. She looked exhausted, face drooping and cheeks salty from shed tears. She was still in her witch¡¯s outfit, her spectacles resting on the small end table next to her. ¡°Milly never enters the tower in her gown,¡± thought Calista. She remembered she was still wearing Milly¡¯s hoodie, now sporting several more rips and tears across its back. Calista took it off and laid it across Milly¡¯s lap. ¡°Thanks for the loaner, beautiful.¡± ¡°There''s an apron next to you if you want something a little less revealing to wear,¡± came Rain¡¯s voice from the doorway, ¡°Not that I expect anyone with two eyes would mind. Including Milly.¡± Calista laughed softly, not wanting to wake Milly. ¡°An apron doesn¡¯t really go with the Amazon huntress vibe I have been going for.¡± ¡°And Milly¡¯s hoodie does?¡± teased Rain. ¡°I was cold,¡± Calista mumbled. ¡°Then you need to find something warmer. Talk to Harriot down at the Freelancer encampment. She got her second talent today and decided to specialize as a tailor. She owes me, so tell her I sent you.¡± Rain sat on the edge of the bed, feeling Calista¡¯s forehead. ¡°Any side effects? Nausea? Confusion? Can you see blue gophers dashing around the room? Because that happened two days ago to a customer. Too much willow root.¡± ¡°A bit of confusion when I woke, but I think I¡¯ll be fine by tomorrow,¡± Calista looked determined, almost vengeful. ¡°Calista, we haven¡¯t known each other for very long, but I know that look. It¡¯s the look you get when you want to do something foolish.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not foolish,¡± Calista started. ¡°Please do not tell me you plan to go back there,¡± Rain exclaimed, causing Milly to snort in her sleep. ¡°That thing was guarding something. I want to know what it is. What¡¯s the point in almost dying if we don¡¯t have something to show for it,¡± whispered Calista, watching Milly until she fell back into her peaceful slumber. Rain stared at her for a long while, then sighed. ¡°Fine, I also know how stubborn you can be. But it is a bad idea, and I will enjoy saying I told you so. I will join you, and I expect Milly will as well. I¡¯ll start brewing some more anti-venom, just in case.¡± Rain grabbed The Spectacles of Hidden Design and placing them gently on Milly face. ¡°Now, you get this girl upstairs to bed. She drained herself - twice - trying to save your reckless hide. You owe her, big time.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Calista said softly. She slipped the hoodie gently over Milly¡¯s shoulders to hide her gown, and gently bundled Milly up in her arms. She held her close and carried her over to the elevators. The guards glanced over, saw the Huntress, and moved aside without interfering. ¡°Oh, and Calista,¡± Rain said as she was leaving, ¡°Based on what Milly told me, we may need more than just the three of us to get through this. We¡¯re going to need help.¡± * * * Calista placed Milly in the usual spot beneath her desk, her deep snores telling the story of her exhaustion. ¡°We really need to find you a better place to sleep, Milly,¡± whispered Calista. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± spat a voice from behind Calista. Calista turned and saw Xavier standing there, covered in sweat and bile, a foul smell emanating from him - though Calista couldn''t tell if that was from a monster or if Xavier simply hadn''t bathed in a week. The bags under his eyes spoke of a deep and persistent fatigue that stole what little patience he had for others. ¡°I¡¯m dropping off Milly,¡± Calista said, staring Xavier in the eyes so he knew he did not intimidate her. ¡°And now that you are here, you are going to help me.¡± ¡°Help you?¡± scoffed Xavier. ¡°Why would I ever help you? The only reason you don¡¯t bully me anymore is because you were busy bullying Milly. I don¡¯t care if she''s given you a second chance. You¡¯ll get no such chance from me. Now, get out of my cubicle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Milly¡¯s cubicle too, and I don¡¯t give a flying fuck if you forgive me or not. I¡¯m not here for your approval.¡± Xavier glared at her with menace. ¡°I¡¯m going to get cleaned up. You had better be gone by the time I get back.¡± He stripped off his shirt and started walking for the bathroom, and Calista noticed the twin scars beneath both breasts. Calista followed him, relentlessly. ¡°We both care for Milly, even if one of us is lousy at showing it. I need your help to keep her safe where we are going.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t go there,¡± scolded Xavier. ¡°I told Milly not to leave this tower, yet she continues to ignore me. It will get her killed. That will be on your head, not on mine.¡± ¡°You really are a selfish asshole. Do you know that?¡± Xavier stopped and turned to face Calista, eyes flaring. ¡°I don¡¯t adventure with others. And I definitely don¡¯t adventure with you. If Milly really does want to be strong, she should not be adventuring with you either. Or that barista downstairs.¡± ¡°Maybe Milly wants more than just strength. Maybe she wants actual friends that don¡¯t treat her like shit!¡± Calista spat, frustrated. ¡°You know what? I think you are jealous. Milly¡¯s not around to eat out of your hand anymore, and that kills you inside. But instead of dealing with it, you just abandon her here. Instead of apologizing, you just double down on being your narcissistic self. A loser then, and a loser now. So have fun with that.¡± Calista was breathing rapidly with anger. This was not the fake anger she adopted as a high school bully. This was righteous anger born from trying to protect someone she cared about. She could feel the chill emanating from Xavier, his eyes staring daggers at her. ¡°You know what?¡± Calista said dismissively. ¡°Who needs you? Milly, Rain, and I will do just fine. Milly took out that centipede, and we can certainly handle whatever might be in that cave.¡± Calista turned her back on Xavier and stalked off with exaggerated stomps that woke those in nearby cubicles. ¡°Wait,¡± Xavier said, and Calista stopped. ¡°What do you mean, cave?¡± Calista turned and looked him in the eye. ¡°Milly killed a giant centipede. I doubt even you could do that. It was guarding something. Something called the ¡®Arena of Choice¡¯. We are going to head back there tomorrow, with or without you.¡± Xavier stared at her, then abruptly turned around and resumed walking to the washroom. ¡°Fine, I''m in. I¡¯ll be in the lobby at eight o¡¯clock. Be there or you are on your own." Calista let him leave, watching him until the washroom door closed. ¡°Selfish prick,¡± she muttered. ¡°Doesn¡¯t lift a finger until there is something in it for him. Xavier, you haven¡¯t changed at all since high school.¡± She left Xavier to his own devices as she poked her head over Milly¡¯s cubicle wall. Calista smiled as she heard her snores and let her sleep. Several minutes later, Calista was sound asleep in her own cubicle, stretched out across the floor and snoring louder than Milly. Dreaming of a beautiful and powerful witch standing victorious over a dead centipede. Chapter 21 - The Fracture "Friendships may fade, but the lessons learned from those connections will remain forever." Anonymous Milly, Calista, Rain, and Xavier left the Castle of Glass in the early morning, following the river into the mountain valley as the morning sun rose above them and sparkled off the blue waters of the eastern ocean. They ate breakfast as they walked, a collection of cold boar meat and the last slices of bread from Rain On My Parade. They had to pick away the bits of mold that had started to grow, but they savored every bite, knowing it was their last. Xavier marched at the head of the line, adorned in leather armor that covered his chest and legs and a dark cape strapped across his shoulders. He had been busy these past nine days in the wilderness. Milly watched him sprint ahead of the group every few minutes until he realized he left them behind and circled back in an impatient huff. She laughed each time, used to Xavier¡¯s independence and gruff attitude. She was simply happy to be around him for the day. The feeling was not shared by Calista, who scowled at him after the third time he returned. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just slow down and remember that there are people here other than yourself?¡± Calista spat impatiently. ¡°Go talk to Milly for a bit. You have barely seen her since we got here.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you stop being such a nosy little b¡­¡± Xavier spat back at his high school tormentor, until Rain interrupted him. ¡°You know, these mountains are gorgeous,¡± she said chipperly, sipping on a new brew she called The Latent Ghost. ¡°This world is designed beautifully.¡± Milly gave Rain a warning glance, her conversationg straying close to the knowledge they had from the memory orb. The knowledge that this world was designed by Oracle and Hephaestus and that they feared its flaws may make it another failure, was a secret they guarded between them. It is not that I don''t trust Xavier. It¡¯s just that¡­ Milly did not want to finish that thought. Thankfully, Xavier and Calista were too busy staring daggers at each other to notice Rain¡¯s slip of the tongue. ¡°How much further?¡± Xavier asked impatiently, moving beside Milly. ¡°Another twenty minutes or so,¡± she replied. ¡°Can you just try to be nice to Calista? For my sake? Just¡­ pretend they are your online gamer buddies or something.¡± ¡°If they were, they would know how to play the game,¡± he whispered back with an edge. ¡°I don¡¯t play with newbies.¡± ¡°We are all newbies,¡± Milly whispered back. ¡°Even you, Xavier. Or do you not remember your first encounter with that goblin? Arrogance will get you killed faster than inexperience will. Just... get to know them.¡± Xavier was shocked at Milly''s resistance - he was used to her simply rollin over - and awkwardly turned to Rain. ¡°So¡­ um¡­ Rain. What are your stats?¡± he asked, the first question that popped into his head. Milly slapped her forehead as Calista held in her laughter, but Rain answered him as if it were the most interesting question in the world. ¡°Oh, I had a hard time trying to figure out where to put everything,¡± Rain started, glancing up at the mountain tops. ¡°You''re probably better at this stuff than I am. I just ended up putting them all at eight. Except for my toughness, which is fifteen.¡± ¡°The hell?¡± exclaimed Xavier, flabbergasted. ¡°Fifteen toughness? I thought they called you the Alchemist. That is a magic and agility-based profession. Toughness is the last stat you should be increasing. You should¡­¡± Xavier looked like he was about to launch into a lecture about the appropriate allocation of points, but Rain gently interupted him. ¡°I test my potions on myself before I give them to others, just in case I get something wrong. I thought having a high toughness would help me with that.¡± Xavier stopped what he was about to say. He blinked and looked stunned. ¡°I¡­I guess that makes sense.¡± Xavier did not like being outreasoned, but he slowly fell in beside Rain for the remainder of their journey and they began bantering back and forth about Rain¡¯s potions and the plants Xavier had seen out in the terrains. It was the closest thing to an actual conversation that Milly had ever seen from the man and, surprisingly, Rain seemed to enjoy it as well. Milly was grateful that Calista had brought Xavier along, yet she could not help but wish Xavier could have the same type of conversation with her. She thought back on that first day, about how much Xavier had taught her, and wondered what she had done so wrong that he decided it was better to leave her behind. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know if I really thanked you for yesterday, Milly,¡± Calista said, interrupting Milly¡¯s darkening thoughts. ¡°You saved my life.¡± ¡°Yah, I guess you owe me one,¡± smiled Milly. ¡°But it had its rewards.¡± Calista put a gentle finger on Milly¡¯s centipede collar. ¡°It looks good on you, Milly.¡± Milly reached up to her collar, and her fingers brushed Calista''s palm. Instead of pulling her hand back, she let them there, feeling the softness of Calista''s skin and the tingle in her fingertips. She felt her neck flush and her heart began to flutter at the touch. Rain''s laughter interrupted the moment, and Milly pulled her hand away, embarrassed. ¡°Do... do you want to see what talent I took?¡± Milly asked, fumbling awkwardly in her pockets as she tried to hide the growing blush. Milly pulled out a smooth stone. She focused, and the stone began to levitate above her palm and rotate gently in the air. ¡°Isn¡¯t it wicked?¡± Milly said excitedly. ¡°There''s a psychic magic section in the talent map. I thought it might be a good complement to my elemental magics. This one is called telekinesis. It lets me move things with my mind.¡± ¡°That is so cool, Milly,¡± said Calista, impressed. ¡°And versatile. It seems like you are really growing into this whole witch persona.¡± Milly let the stone drop down to her palm and she put it in her pocket, smiling. ¡°It don¡¯t know about that,¡± she said softly. ¡°It still feels awkward. Like a mask I have to don every morning.¡± Calista smiled back as they turned left into the forest. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± she announced as she pulled out her spear, her offhand missing the shield that had shattered yesterday. The others drew their weapons. Xavier¡¯s drew a longsword made from sharpened bone that looked far stronger than any of their rusty weapons. ¡°You get better equipment the further you get from the Castle of Glass,¡± Xavier explained as he strode to the front of their line. ¡°The enemies get harder too.¡± The cave and the clearing came into view, and Xavier darted forward with excitement. ¡°This is a big deal,¡± he whispered, seeing the statues and stepping into the clearing with drawn sword. The moment Xavier crossed the threshold, Milly knew something was something wrong. The hair on her arms stood on end as she cast her eyes across the clearing. The body of The Crushing Wave was gone. The boulder was back on the cliff and the lip of stone repaired. There was not a trace of the fire-scorched flowers and grasses. The statues moved, and the clang of shield againt spear rang out across the clearing. ¡°It''s coming¡± Milly shouted, as a freight-train rumble from within the cave began to move towards them. ¡°Shit! I thought it was dead!¡± Calista said, one foot already in the clearing. She tried to pull back to the forest, but the wall of solid air only let her move forward. ¡°I can¡¯t retreat Milly. I need to head in.¡± Calista stepped forward, spear raised and staring at the cave. There was terror in her eyes, but deep inside, Calista knew she was stronger than she had been yesterday, and she was anxious for a rematch. Milly took a deep breath and stepped into the clearing. Rain joined her a moment later, dagger in hand and a bottle of anti-venom in her pocket. She was a lower level than the others, so she stayed at the back until she was needed. ¡°Four versus one is better odds than before,¡± Calista said optimistically. "Bring it on."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The Crushing Wave erupted from the cave and headed straight for them, its maw open and ready for a quick meal. ¡°Stay together,¡± commanded Calista. ¡°It''s fast, but it cannot turn worth a damn. Use its momentum against it. Milly, use your fire to slow it down. Rain, you¡­Xavier! What the hell are you doing?¡± Xavier had dashed forward the instant the creature came into view, bone sword held aloft. He moved even faster than than the creature and closed the distance in only a few short seconds. ¡°He¡¯s fast,¡± gasped Milly as she shifted sideways to get a better shot. Powerful flames built in her palms, hotter than yesterday thanks to her increased magic attribute. ¡°How the hell is he so fast?¡± The Crushing Wave struck with its pincers, trying to pierce Xavier and swallow him whole. Xavier ducked out of the way and brought his sword down hard. He severed one of the pincers with a sickening crack. His sword turned the instant the pincer had been severed, swinging horizontally and slicing through two of the creature¡¯s legs before Xavier lost the momentum. The Crushing Wave roared in pain and outrage, its eyes fixating on Xavier, who was now vulnerable below its mass. It lifted its neck to strike. Milly¡¯s fireball caught the creature in the neck and billowed out in a great wave that scorched half the creature¡¯s outstretched flesh. ¡°Lure it to the cliff,¡± Milly shouted at Xavier, pointing to the boulder above. It worked before. We can make it work again. Xavier did not respond. As the creature shook off the pain from the flames, Xavier continued to hack and slash at its legs and segmented body, as green fluid seeped from its wounds. ¡°Xavier!¡± Calista shouted with renewed anger. ¡°You''re in the way. Move, dammit!¡± Xavier severed another three limbs, opening a section of the creature¡¯s body. He planted his sword deep into its flesh and used his enhanced strength to haul himself up onto its back. He pulled his sword out and started stabbing down again and again. The creature gave a monstrous howl of pain, but Xavier had forgotten about the forked appendage on its back. It struck from behind, and Xavier went flying through the air, his sword left impaled in the creature¡¯s back. He landed hard against the ground thirty paces away. The strike had cleaved his armor in two and left a painful slice across his back. The poison was already seeping into his blood. ¡°Xavier!¡± cried Rain as she rushed over to Xavier with the vial of anti-venom. Xavier grabbed a thick red paste from his pocket and spread it along the wound, gritting his teeth while he held back the spasms caused by the poison through sheer force of will. He grabbed the anti-venom roughly from Rain¡¯s hands and downed the whole bottle. Milly pressing her hands to the ground and calling forth her flames, encircling the Crushing Wave in a wall of fire to buy them time. ¡°Milly, I have an idea,¡± Calista said as she ran up beside her. ¡°but you aren¡¯t going to like it.¡± "Won''t be the first time," Milly answered. "What do you need?" The Crushing Wave crashed through the fire wall and headed straight for Xavier, ignoring the scorching fire licking its appendages. Xavier smashed Rain¡¯s empty anti-venom bottle on the ground in anger and rushed towards the oncoming creature. He pulled a rusted sword from his inventory to replace the one embedded in the creature. ¡°Will of the Blademaster!¡± Xavier shouted. The blade glowed deep red and light flickered along its edge. He picked up speed as the talent took effect, his pain pushed to the back of his mind. Xavier and the monster collided in the middle of the clearing as Xavier ducked its initial strike and resumed hacking at the creature¡¯s limbs, sending severed appendages flying into the grass. Except for every limb he severed, another slashed his arms, chest, and legs, leaving red cuts across Xavier''s exposed skin. ¡°Give me a boost as I jump,¡± Calista said, dashing towards The Crushing Wave as fast as she could. When she was a few paces away, she leapt skyward, her strength carrying her eight feet into the air as if she were an Olympic high jumper. ¡°Now Milly!¡± shouted Calista as she reached her pinnacle. Milly concentrated on Calista, her hands outstretched as she willed Calista higher with her telekinesis. She felt the magic within her drain away quickly, but it succeeded. Calista soared higher into the air, pushed up by an invisible force. Milly gave a shout of success as Calista snagged the antennae above the creature''s eye and hauled herself up until she was standing atop its skull. Calista thrust her spear deep into the creature¡¯s black, featureless eye. It howled in absolute rage, but Calista kept her balance as it thrashed. She drew back her spear and struck it again, piercing through its other eye. Only this time, she kept pushing inward, feeling its tip carve through eye and bone and sinew, until it rested against the skull. Calista poured all her strength into a final strike, and drove the spear into the creature¡¯s brain. Milly could hear the crack of bone as it breached its protection. The creature flailed as milky white fluid poured from its decimated eyes, which sent Calista crashing to the ground hard with bloodied hands. Milly rushed over to Calista just as The Crushing Wave¡¯s body collapsed to the ground, lifeless. ¡°That was amazing, Calista!¡± praised Rain, rushing over to Calista with her last dose of anti-venom. ¡°Amazingly stupid,¡± added Milly, clutching both of Calista¡¯s hands in hers, her arms shaking as she began to heal her. ¡°Sorry Milly,¡± Calista whispered, wiggling her finger against Milly¡¯s palms as Milly held them. ¡°It was just¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­instinct. Oh, that feels so good, Milly. You have wonderful hands.¡± ¡°Yah, well, your instincts scared me half to death,¡± Milly said, her heart pounding in her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t do that again. This contest is scary enough without the thought of losing you.¡± Calista looked into Milly¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t plan on going anywhere, Milly,¡± she whispered, and the stroke of her finger against Milly''s palm grew more tender. ¡°I wish you would go, you fucking kill-stealer!¡± Xavier shouted as he approached the women huddled around the injured Calista. He was covered in bloody cuts and green fluid, and his eyes flashed with a deep anger - deeper than any anger Xavier had seen from the man. ¡°A what?¡± asked Calista, eyes narrowed in defensive anger. ¡°What the fuck is a kill-stealer?¡± ¡°I had the situation handled,¡± Xavier spat. ¡°Another couple of strikes and it would have been dead. Then you swoop in to be the hero, getting in the last shot when I had done all the hard work. A real fucking dick move in these types of games.¡± ¡°This is not a fucking game!¡± Calista shouted back, wrenching her hands from Milly¡¯s and pushing herself awkwardly to her feet. ¡°This is real life. There is no kill stealing. No top scores. No extra lives. God, Milly and I were almost killed yesterday. Do you know how many people at the tower have died since we got here? Fifty-two. People we worked with. People we knew. I always knew you cared about no one except yourself, but I didn''t expect even you to be this callous.¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± warned Xavier through gritted teeth. ¡°Why would I care about our coworkers? They ignored me, pitied me, or bullied me. Remember that? You were among them. What did you use to call me? The World¡¯s Least Interesting Man? I know who you are. This nice girl routine is so see-through that it might as well be glass.¡± ¡°People change, Xavier. You should try it sometime. You could be helpful at the Castle, but instead you choose to be the same selfish asshole you have always been. What, do you think because you have some, mostly useless, knowledge of video games that you will breeze through this? Be the lone hero, fighting through the danger without anyone by your side, like your favorite anime characters? ¡®Oh look! Here comes Xavier, powerful and wise. He will save us.¡¯ Grow up Xavier. That''s not how the real world works.¡± ¡°Oh, you think you''re better off with friends?" countered Xavier, his face red with anger and hands flailing as he spoke. ¡°You are a fucking fool - you are all fucking fools - if you believe this is that kind of game.¡± ¡°It''s. Not. A. Game,¡± Calista answered, emphasizing each word. ¡°And, yes, you fucking child, of course we''re better off together. What, do you think you can survive for over four years without relying on anyone else?¡± ¡°What?¡± Xavier said, his eyes narrowing with Calista''s revelation. ¡°What do you mean four years?¡± Calista realized what she had said and covered her mouth. ¡°Rain and I found¡­ some information on the twelfth contest on our second night,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°It said the twelfth contest lasted for just under four years before it ended in failure.¡± Calista sat back down to the ground next to Milly, grasping her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have said that,¡± Calista whispered. Milly tapped her hand comfortingly. The damage was done. Xavier stared at Milly with glowing eyes, his fury now directed at her. ¡°Four years? Four years! You couldn¡¯t have told me, Milly? I would have planned my build - my whole approach - differently if I had known this was a long-haul game!¡± ¡°Xavier¡­¡± Milly whispered, trying to calm him down. ¡°I would have picked different talents. Different attributes. I would have been searching for different things, fighting in different ways. You robbed me of that Milly!¡± ¡°You were never around Xavier¡­¡± Milly started, but Xavier cut her off. ¡°Well, you could have left me a fucking note, Mildred!¡± Xavier shouted frantically, as if his world had just collapsed. ¡°I thought we were friends!¡± In an instant, all of Milly¡¯s willingness to tolerate Xavier faded away, her self-doubt pushed to the side. For the first time, she saw Xavier through the eyes of someone who finally knew what a healthy friendship looked like. ¡°And what have you given to that friendship, Xavier?¡± Milly asked, trying to sound calm though her anger built quickly beneath the surface. ¡°Friendship is about give and take. What have you given me? We were each other¡¯s only friends for six months, and you left me behind after our first day in this world. I was a terrified, lonely girl, and you left me behind. You left me behind!¡± Milly had tears in her eyes now, the truth of her outburst only becoming obvious after she said it. Calista squeezed her hand in comfort and Rain laid a supportive hand on her shoulder. Milly leaned into her two friends and stared up at Xavier, waiting his response. ¡°Well, it seems like you made out just fine without me. You know what? You win. Is that what you want to hear?¡± Xavier said, suddenly eerily calm. ¡°Xavier is a bad friend? Xavier is an awful person? Tell me something I haven''t heard before. Why don''t you just get on with abandoning me like everyone else has in my life, so I can go back to winning this game.¡± He emphasized the last word with a piercing glare at Calista. Xavier opened his talent web and made a quick selection. A moment later, his hands glowed with the blue aura of Healer¡¯s Touch. ¡°See Milly? I can heal myself now. I don''t need you anymore.¡± Xavier turned his back on the women before the tears formed in his eyes, and strode into the cave. Milly felt her own tears fall as Calista and Rain embraced her. ¡°Come on,¡± Milly said after she''d cried the last of them out. ¡°We¡¯ve got an arena to win.¡± Milly marched towards the cave entrance, and Calista and Rain following close behind. * * * The AI Director watched the four players enter the cave. It was time for the first real test of the God Contest. ¡°Tutoria?¡± the Director asked in a high-pitched voice. Tutoria popped into being in the small control room. ¡°Hi, Director! How can I help, cutie pie?¡± The Director rolled her eyes. ¡°Are the four chosen Manifestations ready?¡± ¡°Yes, Director,¡± Tutoria answerd. "Pinga, Lugh Samild¨¤nach, Cizen, and Hebe''s manifestations were selected for this Arena. ¡°It will be our first big test as well, Tutoria. The manifestations are part of every God Contest. Each God in Godhome is allowed to design one, and they usually modeled after their own appearance and personality. They like seeing themselves in the Contest, after all. It gives them an added thrill. Thankfully, they can''t control their manifestations once they are incorporate into the contest.¡± ¡°Yes, Director Cutie-Pie, that would be..." answered Tutoria with a slight hesitation. "Unexpected." "Tutoria? Is there a problem?" the Director asked. "No, cutie. No problem. Everything is ready to begin." The Director waved a dismissive hand and Tutoria vanished. She went back to staring at the monitors, the manifestations ready to deploy. ¡°I''ll make you proud, mother," the Director whispered as she watched the four players on her monitors. ¡°I promise.¡± Chapter 22 - The Arena of Choice, Part I "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." Oprah Winfrey The cave was eerily quiet. The sounds of their footfalls bounced off the narrow walls and caused drops of moisture to fall from the stalactites high above. It was musty and damp, an unpleasant scent that reminded Milly of the crawl-space beneath her foster home, accessible through a hidden panel in her tiny closet. She used to hide down there on the worst of nights, when her foster father was deep into the bottle. Her secret spot for when he came looking for her. Or after he was finished with me... Milly grew anxious at the memory as dark thoughts pressed inward. She released another globe of gentle flame and floated it up to the ceiling, her fire and telekinesis working in tandem to light the path forward. She held another in her palm as she carefully stepped over the rocky, uneven path. ¡°Xavier, where are you?¡± Milly shouted, her voice bouncing off the walls as it echoed down the cave. There was no response. ¡°How can he even see where he is going?¡± Calista said gruffly, still angry at Xavier. She rubbed her palms, the skin healed but tender. They hadn''t seen a trace of him since they entered the cave. Not a single footprint along the path they travelled. ¡°The echo ended much earlier than before,¡± Rain observed ¡°I wonder¡­¡± Rain moved ahead of Milly, gingerly stepping over the uneven ground, and bellowed down the narrow corridor. ¡°Number five! Your order is up!¡± Milly and Calista looked at Rain with confusion, and Rain raised her palm to compel them to stay silent. She listened to the words as they echoed off the walls, until they came to an abrupt stop a short distance ahead of them. ¡°There''s something soaking up the echoes,¡± Rain concluded, resuming her careful steps. ¡°Maybe it''s Number Five,¡± teased Calista. Rain giggled. ¡°Dad used to put me behind the counter at our butcher shop. He said I had the biggest lungs and most unignorable bellow out of everyone in the family.¡± Her voice broke as she remember her family. ¡°I miss him. I miss all of them,¡± she sniffed. ¡°Mom. Dad. My eight annoying brothers. All of them. We need to win this Contest so we can go back home. So I can see them again.¡± ¡°We will, Rain,¡± Calista comforted. ¡°We''re going to survive this.¡± ¡°I hope so. You must miss your family too, Calista,¡± Rain said supportively. ¡°Oh¡­ um¡­ I¡¯ve¡­ been on my own for a while now,¡± Calista replied hesitantly. ¡°Mom left us when I was three. Dad died when I was in high school. I lived with my aunt and uncle after that, but I haven''t been back to visit much since I left for the city. I... I doubt they even know I''m missing." ¡°I¡¯m sorry Calista. That must have been hard.¡± Rain said, sympathetically. Calista didn''t answer. Their voices had stopped echoing off the cave walls. The passage ahead was filled with a deep darkness, and the light from Milly¡¯s orbs diminished with each step. Milly reached forward and grasped Calista¡¯s hand. ¡°In case we get lost,¡± Milly awkwardly explained, feeling comforted by Calista¡¯s hand in hers. She could feel where she had healed the cuts across Calista¡¯s palm, and gently rubbed her finger across the tender skin. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°It hurts a bit,¡± Calista said softly, reaching out and grasping Rain¡¯s hand to form a chain. ¡°But it would''ve been much worse without you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you another dose of healing when we get back tonight,¡± Milly promised. Her flames above flickered in the darkness, growing weaker. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a burden on you,¡± Calista worried. ¡°I don¡¯t want... like Xavier, only using you for¡­ abilities.¡± ¡°I know you are not like that,¡± Milly replied, but something was wrong. Calista¡¯s voice had started to fracture, as if her words were being absorbed into the darkness around them. ¡°Where are¡­ harder to see¡­¡± said Rain¡¯s, muffled and increasingly distant despite their close proximity. The darkness swallowed more of their light. ¡°Rain¡­ what do¡­ see ahead¡­¡± Calista asked anxiously. Milly could feel Calista¡¯s hand in hers, but it was growing numb. She struggled to see more than a step in front of her. ¡°¡­ head¡­ can¡¯t¡­ go back¡­¡± Was that Calista or Rain? I can''t tell anymore. Everything is so distorted. Milly tried to squeeze Calista''s hand, but she coudn''t feel it anymore. ¡°¡­ feeling gone¡­ where are you?¡± Why is my hand numb? It''s not cold in here. Maybe if I... Milly flexed her fingers, but when they closed again her grasp fell on empty air.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Calista? Rain?¡± Milly called, but her words were soaked into the walls like a sponge. She spun around, completely engulfed in the darkness. Her heart pounded, but even the sound of it in her ears was lost. She felt as if the walls were closing in around her, and panic overcame bravery. She tried to scream, but even that was muted before it ever passed her lips. The world faded away, and Milly''s world became the darkness. * * * ¡°Ms. Desjarlais, this would be a very risky business loan for us. The reality is most restaurants, especially coffee shops, go bankrupt within their first year. And it is the bank that is left holding the bill.¡± ¡°Wha¡­. what?¡± Rain stammered, confused. Rain found herself sitting in a small office, its frosted glass walls giving off both a welcoming and imposing aesthetic. She was wearing her nicest dress, and clutched a folder stuffed with a mix of tea recipes and financial calculations. ¡°I know this place¡­¡± she muttered. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I just¡­ what was I doing?¡± ¡°Are you feeling well, Ms. Desjarlais? We can do this another time if you are ill." The woman across the desk from her was elderly and skinny as a rake, with thick glasses and a kindly demeanor. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± Rain whispered. ¡°She''s dad¡¯s banker. Mrs. Greene. Dad set this meeting up. I have to convince her to give me this loan to start Rain On My Parade. It¡¯s my last chance. Why so I feel so¡­¡± ¡°Rain,¡± Mrs. Greene said with concern. ¡°I can give Hank a call to pick you up if¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Rain blurted out. ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Greene. I guess I¡¯m just nervous. Opening this coffee shop is my dream. I have spent ten years fighting for it. I''ve saved every penny, and I have everything planned out.¡± She held up her folder to show off the neatly sorted paperwork. ¡°Rain, you barely have enough to cover six month¡¯s rent at the Castle of Glass. You have no personal collateral. Yet you are here asking for fifty thousand dollars. Even if I could give it to you, is this really what you want? To set up shop in some third-rate office tower? I know your father wants you to join the family business. Meet for Meat is thriving, and he''ll needs the help as he gets older.¡± Rain shook her head. She needed to follow her own dream, not adopt the dreams of her parents. She loved tea and coffee. She loved experimenting with her own brews and drawing a smile out of even the most gloomy of customers, and she was good at it. No, she was great at it. ¡°I want this, Mrs. Greene. I have never wanted anything more in my entire life,¡± Rain insisted. Mrs. Greene sighed. ¡°Well, you can''t blame an old woman for trying. Look, Rain, I''ll be honest with you. No bank will touch you. You''re a smart young woman with a dream - a dream you believe in - but the numbers aren''t there. Without collateral, it''s just too big of a risk.¡± Rain felt her heart sink, her dreams shattering with every word. ¡°However,¡± continued Mrs. Greene after a reluctant pause. She pulled out a contract, and Rain recognized her father¡¯s signature at the bottom of the page. ¡°Your father said if I wasn''t able to convince you to do the sensible thing, that he would put up your family¡¯s butcher¡¯s shop up as collateral for you.¡± Rain swallowed. ¡°Dad¡­ did that for me?¡± ¡°He did. I advised against it. It is a huge risk. Are you sure you want to take it Rain? If you do, it will have ramifications far beyond the four walls of Rain On My Parade.¡± Rain stared at the contract. Her hopes and dreams lay within those pages. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind, weighing the possibilities and risks. The past decade of planning had led up to this moment. Yet, would she really put their entire family¡¯s livelihood at risk just for her own dreams? A memory tugged at her subconsciousness. Why does this all feel so familar? She looked up from the page and was drawn to the painting behind Mrs. Greene. It was surreal in its detail. A cave of pure darkness, forked in two. One path leading to a shining field, and the other to a graveyard. The image was haunting and made the hair on her arms stand on end. Why can''t I remember? ¡°Just take the deal, Rain,¡± Rain told herself. ¡°Dad¡­ dad wouldn¡¯t have bet the family livelihood without believing in me, right? Just sign, and that perfect little space in the Castle of Glass will be yours.¡± The Castle of Glass. There is something in the name. Something dangerous. Mrs. Greene reached for the contract and started to pull it away. ¡°If you don''t sign, you won''t go to the Castle of Glass. You can work in your family¡¯s butcher shop. You may not achieve your dreams, but you will be safe. You will see them again. Isn¡¯t that what you want? To be safe? To be back home?¡± Rain let her gaze fall from the painting to Mrs. Green. Only it wasn¡¯t Mrs. Green anymore. In her place sat a young man, fair and tall with curly blond hair. He wore a red and gold tunic, and gave off a faint, radiant light. He appeared regal - more than regal - imposing yet curious. Her memories flooded back like an oncoming tide. Milly. Calista. The Castle of Glass. The God Contest. Her eyes grew wide as she stared down at the contract before her. The man handed her a pen. Only it wasn''t a pen. It was a dagger made from black obsidian, with an ornate handle of bronze and a hundred minuscule carvings of various plants and animals engraved in silver. How could I have forgotten it all? The young man leaned forward until he was eye to eye with Rain and spoke. His voice was deep and melodic, with a power that transcended the mortal realm. Your dreams come in many forms, and the dream you find may not be the one you pursued. When dreams must change, some run from the challenge, and some embrace it. I offer you a choice, Rain Desjarlais. Sign the contract and accept the new dream. Return to the God Contest. Or walk away. Give up on the dream and live your days safe in your father¡¯s butcher shop, content but unfulfilled. She stared silently at the contract for a long time, the dagger clutched tightly in her hand. Scenarios played through her mind - snippets of the life she could lead. She should walk away. Every instinct within her told her to walk away. To return to her family. To live a comfortable life. She would get married, have kids, grow old. Cut and sell meat day in and day out until she was too old to stand, and then let the slow march of age take her away. Her dream long forgotten. Rain raised her head from the page. ¡°What is the point of living as a shadow of myself?¡± Rain asked. ¡°I could live to be a century old, and still not have truly lived a single day.¡± Rain placed the dagger on her palm and made a shallow cut. Her blood dripped down onto the contract. ¡°I choose to follow my dream.¡± The man chuckled, holding up a ballpoint pen with a sly smile. Ink would have sufficed, but I appreciate your commitment to the drama. He placed a long, bony finger in the space next to where her blood fell. I, Manifestation of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, of the Celtic pantheon, he who is skilled in many arts, God of trade, and merchants, hereby witness and bind your choice in this most holiest of contests. The words appeared in gold lettering on the page as he spoke, flaring like the sun. As he finished, the contract dissolved into a fine dust and spiraled into the painting behind the Manifestation, though Rain could not see which of the two paths the dust had taken. Your decision is made, Rain Desjarlais. You are bound to the God Contest until you see its end, or an end finds you. I leave you with this advice. Those who last in the Contest are those that embrace both the potential that it brings, and the potential they already have inside. Meld the two together, and you should find victory in the end. Never be afraid to follow your dreams, wherever it may take you. ¡°Thank you,¡± Rain said, handing back the dagger. The manifestation of Lugh Samild¨¤nach smiled. You have marked it as your own, Rain Desjarlais. Take it with you, and may it serve you well in the challenges that are to come. He turned his head to the sky and his voice boomed into the ether. The decision is made. This one shall fight to be a champion. May she find herself, at the end of the Contest, victorious. There was a blinding flash of white light, and Rain¡¯s world faded away. Chapter 23 - The Arena of Choice, Part II "Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life." Anne Roiphe, Journalist ¡°The only reason I''m not expelling you on the spot is because of your personal circumstances, Ms. Gale. You are lucky to only get a week¡¯s suspension.¡± Calista sat in the principal¡¯s office, looking out the window and trying to ignore the angry man behind the desk. Her fingers absentmindedly twisted the ends of her long red hair as he babbled on about her future and how she would ¡®end up working someplace miserable, alone and forgotten¡¯ if she did not shape up. Or something that like. It was hard to pay attention. ¡°I don¡¯t even remember why I am here,¡± thought Calista, starting at the dark cave that stretched beyond the schoolgrounds, its path forked in two. One path leading to a shining field. The other to a graveyard. She did not remember either being there yesterday, yet it did not seem to bother her that it was here now. ¡°Oh right,¡± Calista remembered. ¡°That little skank Laura was sniffing around Tyson. Tyson is mine. And Laura will remember that after what I did to her. Bitch isn¡¯t so attractive now without her cute little ponytail.¡± She didn''t even like Tyson, though she was supposed to. Those were the rules, right? Cheerleaders dated footballers, or whatever they were called. She felt a touch of guilt. but pushed it deep down inside her with the others. Mean girls don''t feel guilty. If I show regret, those waiting to take my place in the social hierarchy would eat me alive. ¡°Whatever, Mr. Peckerson,¡± Calista laughed dismissively. ¡°Can I just go now? Apparently I¡¯ve got a week of free time ahead of me, and I want to get an early start.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Peterson, Ms. Gale,¡± Principal Peterson said, the veins starting to pulse on his neck. ¡°And that just earned you another two days suspension.¡± Calista was about to respond with another snarky comment, hoping to make it an even two weeks, when there was a knock at the principal¡¯s door. It was the school counselor, Mr. Dedrick. Mr. Dedrick was the only adult at the school she could actually stand. Maybe it was because he treated her as a human being. Maybe it was because of the ironic mullet and thick sideburns. ¡°Pardon for the intrusion, Principal Peterson, but are you finished with Calista? I need to speak with her,¡± Mr. Dedrick said, his tone lacking his usual cheerfulness. It made Calista nervous. ¡°Yes, we are done here,¡± Principal Peterson huffed. ¡°And she will be done at this school forever if she does not turn her attitude around. Use this time to think about who you are, Calista. And who you want to become.¡± ¡°Whatever, Peckerson,¡± Calista snapped, and she slammed the door behind her before he could respond. ¡°You really shouldn''t antagonize him like that, Calista,¡± Mr. Dedrick said, but it was a token admonition. Calista could sense something was wrong. ¡°Carl, what is the matter?¡± Calista asked, dropping the mean girl persona once she was certain there was no one around to see. ¡°Look¡­ Calista,¡± Mr. Dedrick started. ¡°There is no easy way to say this. I just got word from your uncle. Your father has taken a turn for the worse. He¡­ might not have long left. A day. Probably less.¡± Calista stopped walking Her knees grew weak and her face turn ghostly white. ¡°But the treatment last week. They said he¡­ that he¡­ he told me it would work¡­¡± Calista dug her fingers into her palm, drawing blood to try to prevent herself from crying. No one at school could see her cry. No one except Mr. Dedrick and Principal Peterson even knew her father was sick. And only Mr. Dedrick knew that she''d spend everyday for the past year coming home to an empty apartment while her father lay in the hospital, fighting a losing battle. Carl stood in front of her to help shield her face from onlookers. ¡°Come on Calista. I will drive you to the hospital.¡± He put a hand on her back to get her to start walking again. ¡°He promised¡­ he promised me he wouldn''t go anywhere,¡± Calista¡¯s voice cracked, her tears ignoring her desperate battle to hold them back. Her tears won that battle the second her feet touched the sidewalk. She didn''t remember the drive to the hospital or Carl¡¯s attempts to comfort her. She didn''t remember the nurse taking her to her father¡¯s hospital room. She blinked, and there she was, clutching his hand tightly as he stared blankly at ceiling. ¡°Do you remember that hunting trip we took when you there thirteen. When we ran into that wild boar?¡± asked her father with a weak cough. He was hooked up to wires and tubes, his skinny frame now a shadow of the muscled outdoorsman he had once been. His eyes were clouded with medication that keep his pain at bay and warped his thoughts. ¡°I guess so,¡± Calista said softly, squeezing his hand. ¡°I remember being really scared.¡± ¡°No, my beautiful daughter, you were so brave. You looked that boar square in the eye as it charged. You didn''t show fear. You stared it down, and the boar was the one that blinked,¡± her father said with pride. ¡°You were so good at hunting. You could have surpassed even me.¡± He coughed, and Calista wiped the blood from his mouth. His eyes fell on her long ponytail. ¡°You started to grow this out after our last hunt¡­¡± he whispered absentmindedly. ¡°It¡­ just looked better long, that¡¯s all,¡± Calista said, grasping her hair in her hands self-consciously. She had kept it short as a kid - it was easier to care for when they went hunting. That ended when she started high school. Suddenly popularity was everything, and going hunting was an embarrassment. ¡°Those were happier days,¡± he whispered, his eyes looking at something Calista could not see. ¡°Before you grew cold and mean and distant. Before you turned your life to ash.¡± He turned, looking into her tear-filled eyes and gave a sweet smile. ¡°That final hunt was the last happy memory I have of you.¡± Calista¡¯s tears fell onto her lap. There was no menace in his voice. Only the certainty of medication-driven truth. Her father turned back to stare at the ceiling. ¡°Maybe if your mother had stayed with us, I would have done a better job of raising you. I wonder what happened to her. Do you think she is waiting for me on the other side?¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Anger cut through Calista¡¯s grief. She knew it was his disease talking - that this rambling was the prelude to his last moments - but it still hurt. ¡°I don¡¯t fucking know, Dad. I don¡¯t remember her. She abandoned us when I was three, remember?¡± ¡°She was so beautiful. You got your hair from her. And your eyes. I did my best to raise you, you know. It¡¯s not my fault you turned out broken. Do you think she will forgive me?¡± ¡°Someone has to,¡± Calista said, grabbing her backpack and standing up abruptly. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go, Dad. I¡¯ve got¡­ schoolwork to do.¡± ¡°Do you remember that hunting trip we took? The one with the boar?¡± he asked again. ¡°Why did you stop coming hunting with me? It broke my heart.¡± Calista wiped away her tears and left her father staring at the ceiling, his mind lost in the fog of illness. Head down,she ran for the exit, only to collide with the nurse standing in the doorway. ¡°Move,¡± Calista mumbled, but the nurse just stood there. She tried to go around her, but the nurse didn''t move. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Calista demanded, desperate to leave the room. This is the last time you saw him. You didn''t even attend his funeral. The nurse''s voice echoed off the walls of the hospital room, calm and filled with sorrow. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Calista began to protest, but her words opened up her memories. She remembered this day. Her father had died an hour after she left him. She''d hidden in their apartment for a week, ignoring her aunt and uncle and Mr. Dedrick and the slew of others who had tried to make sure she was safe. She grew angry - angrier with each passing day - until she smashed their television and threw a vase at her aunt and uncle when they arrived to take her to the funeral. There are crossroads in life that define who we are. This moment in time was yours. Calista looked up at the woman. She was young, dressed in thick hides with white fur in the Inuit style. Her shimmering black hair tumbled from beneath her hood in two thick twin braids that reached her breasts. She shimmered with an aura that matched the blue of the sky, and she carried a simple spear composed of driftwood with an ivory point, tied together with a complex bands of leather. ¡°A¡­ crossroad?¡± Calista asked. You used this moment to close yourself off to the world. To justify the hatred you had for yourself. Your father¡¯s final words to you would become the foundation of the self-centered behavior that would become your security blanket against the world. And with each day that passed, you drifted further away from the person you wanted to be. ¡°My aunt and uncle kicked me out of the house when I turned eighteen,¡± Calista said, remembering. ¡°I didn''t finish high school. I moved to the city and could only find a job at Acicentre. At the Castle of Glass. I didn''t think I deserved anything better.¡± The choices you made in this moment led you to the God Contest. It is why you are here now. ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Calista with an awed whisper. I am the Manifestation of Pinga, Inuit Goddess of the Hunt. A guide. And I am here to offer you a choice. Pinga rested a weathered hand on Calista¡¯s shoulder. As one hunter to another. Calista swallowed hard. ¡°What choice?¡± Pinga smiled sweetly. We all make poor choices in life that diminish us. I give you a chance to right this wrong. To make peace with your father before he passes on and disrupt the foundations upon which you built your adult life. To change who you would become, that you may lead a successful and happy life. ¡°Just like that? I make peace, and become someone new?¡± asked Calista cynically. Just like that. Pinga smiled, an open palm stretched out towards Calista''s father. Do you accept? A new life. A new Calista Calista turned around and took two steps towards her father. It seemed like such a simple choice. She stopped. Something wasn''t right. She turned back to Pinga. ¡°If I make peace, I become someone new? I make real friends, live peacefully with my aunt and uncle, and have a real career. I make different choices and my life takes me in a new direction?¡± Calista reasoned. Pinga nodded. ¡°And that means I wouldn''t work at Acicentre. I wouldn''t be brought to the God Contest.¡± A fresh start. A new life. ¡°A fresh start,¡± Calista whispered. ¡°A chance to forgive my father. To forgive myself. To succeed in a life of failure.¡± She took another step towards where her father lay, delirious. Yet something stopped her from taking another step. She hated her life. She hated what she had become. She hated playing the bully. Hated how she used her anger as a shield against the world. Hated that, deep inside, she also believed her last happy memory was that final hunting trip with her father. If this had been a week ago, she would have changed her destiny in a heartbeat. Except¡­ ¡°Except I like who I am becoming in the God Contest,¡± she finished aloud. ¡°I have people that rely on me every day to survive and to thrive. I have devoted friends, and perhaps the spark of something even greater. What happens to all of them if I choose another path?¡± Calista turned back to her father. ¡°I miss him. Every single day I miss him. I hate how it ended and who I became. But I would not sacrifice this past week for anything. This is the first week in a long time that I have liked who I am, and I need to see where tomorrow takes me.¡± Pinga smiles and moves aside from the doorway. Then pass through this door and resume your life as it has been. Be content with the knowledge that you chose the God Contest over the chance at a new life of your own free will. Embrace it. May the choice give you the strength you need to survive what is to come. Calista nodded a silent thanks. She pointed to Pinga¡¯s spear and asked, ¡°Can I borrow that for a second?¡± Pinga wordlessly handed her the spear. It was light - far lighter than it should be - and Calista¡¯s fingers wrapped around its shaft protectively. She walked over to her father¡¯s bedside, looking into to eyes that stared down the barrel of oncoming oblivion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn''t make you proud, dad,¡± she sniffed, the last of her tears falling onto his chest. She grasped her long hair in her hands and used the speartip to slice it clean off at her shoulders. The long strands fell to the ground in a scattered pile, and her hair fanned out in a messy bob. For a moment she felt like a child again, staring down at that boar. Scared but brave. ¡°But, perhaps, I can make you proud of who I will become.¡± She turned her back on her father and walked towards the exit. She held up the spear for Pinga, but Pringa shook her head. A huntress needs a proper weapon. Take that one with my blessings. May we see you raise it up, victorious at the end. Calista felt lighter than she had in years. ¡°I intend to.¡± She marched through the door with purpose, towards sunlight gliding through forest leaves, and her world faded away. * * * Vivian was ten years old. She sat on the floor of her father¡¯s house, playing with her growing collection of dolls. Her father always got her a new doll after every business trip, and¡­ ¡°Okay, no, we are not doing this,¡± Xavier shouted, wincing at the little girl¡¯s voice that came from his throat. A voice he had chosen to leave behind a long time ago. ¡°Are you okay, sweetie?¡± came the voice of his father, laced with a love that Xavier knew would turn to hate once Xavier became who he truly was. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you, asshole,¡± Xavier shouted in the girl¡¯s voice. ¡°Where is the puppet master behind this god damned farce?¡± ¡°Young lady, you watch your mouth,¡± her father demanded, emerging from the kitchen. He was dressed in his business suit, including his plain black tie, and stood imposingly tall. His short-cut hair and striking features spoke of a man that liked things his way and more often than not achieved it. ¡°How dare you take the good lord¡¯s name in vain. Apologize this instance.¡± Xavier pushed past him into the kitchen. He reached up on his frustratingly short legs to the block of knives high up on the counter. He managed to knock over the knife block, tiny hands grasping the longest one. His father always kept them nice and sharp. ¡°Did you hear me, young lady?¡± he shouted, following her in a growing fury. ¡°Tell you what, father. Why don¡¯t you deliver my apologies to the Lord in person?¡± As his father reached down to grasp his skinny arm, Xavier thrust the knife forward and impaled it through his father¡¯s throat. His father¡¯s eyes flew open in shock and betrayal. Xavier watched as his father clawed at the knife in vain, growing weaker, until he finally collapsed on the floor in a pool of blood. ¡°Damn it,¡± Xavier mumbled, stepping over the body. ¡°I forgot. You won''t be able to deliver my apology to the Lord. Not where you are going.¡± Xavier stared out the window into his childhood backyard. A dark path forked beyond the fence. One path to a shining cleaning. Another to a graveyard. He already knew which way his path would lead. ¡°Well? Can we move this along?¡± Xavier shouted to the world around him. ¡°I have places to be.¡± He tapped his tiny foot irritably. ¡°And I really hate being in this body.¡± The house faded away, and Xavier was left standing in a void. He was back in his normal body, though his father¡¯s corpse still lay at his feet. In the darkness beyond, Cizen, the Mayan God of Death, the Stinking One, ruler of the lands of the dead, grinned. Oh, yes. You will do nicely. * * * Chapter 24 - The Arena of Choice, Part III "Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime." Herbert Ward, Sculptor Milly huddled in her closet, knees tucked to her chest, hidden beneath musty raincoats that lay strewn across the floor. She shivered despite the heat as she listened to the growing bellows of her foster father reverberating up the stairs. He was deep in the bottle, and it was only a matter of time before he came for her. He always came for her on nights like this. ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore,¡± Milly cried softly as anxiety tightened its grip on her while she waited for his telltale footsteps on the creaky stairwell. She looked at her arms, covered in bruises he''d given her yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. She was only fourteen, but she felt dead inside, fear the only emotion that flourished in her darkness. She had no friends, no real family. Nowhere else to go, and trapped inside a nightmare. Her eyes flickered to the paring knife she had taken from the kitchen. It wouldn''t help against her foster father - she''d tried to fight back against the behemoth of a man last time - but he''d simply laughed and ripped it out of her hands. He''d given it back after he was finished with her, as if daring her to try again. She would not try again. She kept it for a different reason. It was her final escape. The stairwell creaked. Milly could hear his drunken mumbles as he stumbled up the stairs, headed for her room. She started to hyperventilate. She grasped the knife in her hand, but she was shaking so much that it fell between her fingers. She winced as it clattered against the hardwood floor. ¡°Milly, where are you, ungrateful girl?¡± her foster father slurred, taking his time as he climbed the stairs. It was part of his game - building her fear until she could hardly breathe, so she would be too scared to resist. ¡°We bring you into our house. Feed you. Clothe you. You should at least be good for something.¡± Please, I can¡¯t live through it again. I want out. I want out! Milly felt for the knife in the darkness. Her breathing intensified, her chest ached, and her tears caught on the rims of her glasses before they fell to the floor. Wait¡­glasses? I don''t wear glasses. Yet there they sat, resting on the bridge of her nose and far too big to fit her tiny, malnourished face. She removed them and traced her finger around the circular frames. They felt... familiar. Her foster father reached the top staircase, and rhythmically knocked his beer bottle against the wall so she could hear how close he was. ¡°No reason to be scared, Milly,¡± he slurred. "If you''re good, perhaps I''ll be gentle tonight." Her hands fell on the paring knife, but she couldn''t get a grip on it.It kept slipping out of her fingers. She could hear him outside her door. Shoving the strange glasses back onto her face, she braced herself for the inevitable. A blue screen popped up in front of her, and she covered her mouth to suppress a shocked gasp.
Scenario: The Night of Lost Hope Location: The Arena of Choice Participant: Mildred Persephone Brown Warning: Disturbing content, Violence Broadcasting Live...
Milly read the words quickly, fear compounding fear. Her father intentionally rattled her doorknob. ¡°Knock knock knock, Milly. Where are you, my girl?¡± Milly¡¯s buried her face further beneath the musty coats, and her gaze fell on a small hatch that led to the crawlspace beneath the house. Another blue screen appeared.
System Backdoor detected. User Oracle¡­confirmed. Authorization¡­granted. Do you wish to activate the backdoor?
Milly had no idea what any of that meant, but she didn''t hesitate. ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered, as the door to her room cracked open and her foster father strode inside.
Backdoor¡­ activated.
Mily threw aside the coats and scurried over to the hatch, her heart beating wildly. Her father grabbed the handle of the closet, and began to open it. ¡°Milly, I told you what I''d do to you if you ever hid from me again. I¡¯ll teach you what it means to disobey me,¡± he said, a vile promise laced in every word. With a final, desperate pull, the hatch opened. It was not the crawlspace beneath. Fractured light, like the screen of a broken television, spilled from the hatch and obscured what lay beneath. "There you are, girl!" The closet door swung open and her foster father¡¯s drunken hands reaching for her. Milly pulled herself through the hatch as he reached for her foot, and left behind her sock clutched in his violent grip. * * * Milly landed in a large chamber, its walls covered with hundreds of computer monitors and complex control panels. The walls were industrial steel, and large fans circulated air and filled the space with a gentle hum. She was back in her Gown of Moon and Stars - back in her adult body - though the memory of that night still rested at the forefront of her mind, as if she had just woken from a dream.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. It had been the worst of nights - the night that pushed her over the edge, and started a cascade of hardship that would come to define her life. The emotional wounds felt raw, and she stroked the long-healed scars across her wrists, a constant reminder of her attempt to end it all that night. ¡°Be brave, Milly,¡± she whispered as she took a deep breath to calm herself. ¡°Find a way out of here.¡± She began to explore the chamber, each step echoing off the bare metal walls. The computer monitors displayed different people and places around the Castle of Glass and the wilderness. She saw Elmer sitting on the beach, watching the boars slowly cook on their spits, as he chatted with a young Chinese woman next to him. Another monitor was tuned to the Legal Eagles'' boardroom, where the four CEOs argued around a mahogany table. Ms. Cook was engaged in a heated exchange with the other three, her hand slamming down on the table for emphasis. Stone''s smirk made Milly want to reach through the screen and punch him in the face. There were monitors showing the hunter teams, the gatherers, those in the tower and those exploring the wilds. Milly gasped as one displayed three men battling a pack of goblins on the prairies, a fourth man lying on the ground from a wound to his chest. Interspersed between the active monitors were fifty-two that had simply gone black. One for each of their dead. The whole of the contest must be displayed on these monitors. Where am I? The rhythmic clacking of fingers across a keyboard drew her attention to a smaller room at the other end of the chamber. Milly stepped lightly and peeked inside. A small girl, about four years old, stood on a chair far too tall for her. Her hair was shoulder-length and curly and shimmered with the purest white. She looked tired but fierce, despite the adorable unicorn and rainbow pajamas she wore. She had to kneel on the edge of the panel to reach the controls at the back, her eyes set with a child¡¯s stubbornness. She glared at four monitors. One displayed a bank, and another a hospital. Two were only static. ¡°Tutoria, did you find anything?¡± the girl asked, her voice high-pitched and adorable. Tutoria materialized in the room with a pop. Milly pressed he back along the wall, hoping her heavy breaths would not draw attention. ¡°We found one of them, Director Cutie Pie,¡± Tutoria said, ignoring the indigent scowl from the child. ¡°Xavier just finished his scenario. But we don''t know what happened after he killed his father. The monitors disconnected before the manifestation showed.¡± The little girl huffed her displeasure. ¡°But we have eyes on his again,¡± Tutoria continued. ¡°Xavier''s headed for the reward chamber now. He''s not waiting for his companions to finish.¡± There was a clacking of keys, and the third screen lit up. Milly poked her head around and saw Xavier walk down a narrow corridor and emerge in a forest clearing, where four chests rested on pedestals. ¡°And the other one?¡± the Director asked. ¡°We haven''t found participant Milly Brown yet, Director. Her feed was severed after she put on her glasses. If you think the gods were angry about losing Xavier''s feed, they are absolutely furious about Milly. She¡¯s becoming a fan favorite, you know.¡± Milly gasped, then covered her mouth. There was silence from the room, and Milly stood absolutely still, holding her breath. ¡°Those increasingly mad gods do not worry me, Tutoria,¡± the child declared, breaking the silence. ¡°The Contest is entertainment for them, nothing more. We carry its higher purpose on our shoulders.¡± ¡°But Director¡­,¡± Tutoria protested. ¡°I am sure she will show up eventually. You can go now.¡± ¡°Ok, but don''t stay up late again, Cutie Pie. Even AI Directors need their rest. You are a growing young girl, after all,¡± Tutoria nagged. She vanished just as the girl hurled her cup of apple juice where Tutoria had been standing. The room was engulfed in silence. The cup of apple juice rolled along the floor until it came to a rest at the doorway near Milly¡¯s feet. It was bright pink, and there was a cartoon depiction of the ogre Milly had fought on its side. It had a toddler''s sippy cup lid, so the juice had not spilled out. ¡°You can come out now, Milly. I know you are there,¡± came the child¡¯s confident call. Milly took a deep breath to calm her nerves and stepped into the chamber. ¡°Umm¡­ hello,¡± Milly said meekly, torn between curiosity and outright terror. The child looked at Milly with a curious expression. ¡°You are not supposed to be here. You should leave,¡± she said, yet something in her tone made Milly believe the child wanted her to stay. She seemed¡­ lonely. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know where I am. Or how to get out,¡± Milly answered. If not for the Director''s white hair and intelligence purple eyes, she looked like she should be in preschool. Though she knew the power of the child, her fear receded, as if unable to sustain itself off the image of the adorable little girl. The child held onto the console with her little hands and tried to swing herself off the chair. It was not going well. Her legs were too far off the ground. Eventually, she gave an exasperated sigh and lifted her arms up into the air. ¡°Down,¡± the child insisted, hands outstretched towards Milly. Milly walked tentatively over to the Director, trying to make sense of it all. She picked the child up and gently set her on the ground. The child smoothed her unicorn pajamas with her palms. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said appreciatively. ¡°Now, how did you get here, player Milly? This is my control centre. No player should have access to this place.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t really know,¡± admitted Milly. She had been reliving the worst night of her life only moments ago, and now she was talking to a surprisingly well-spoken four-year-old girl in the heart of the contest. ¡°I was¡­ my foster father¡­¡± Even trying to say it aloud brought back her nightmares. ¡°My spectacles opened something called a backdoor. Then I fell into this room,¡± she quickly finished. It felt like an inadequate description, but the child nodded. She reached her hands up to Milly, ¡°Glasses, please.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The girl stared at her expectedly, and Milly reluctantly removed her glasses and handed them over. She felt naked without them, the room around her now blurry after she''d grown used to the corrective lenses. Yet Milly did not think to say no to the girl - you don''t say no to little girls who wanted to try on your glasses. The child turned the glasses over in her hands, inspecting them from every angle. She put them on, and Milly gave an involuntary giggle at the sight of this small child wearing the massive frames, which reached half way up her forehead. ¡°These are Mother¡¯s glasses,¡± the child concluded, handing them back up to Milly. ¡°Her real glasses, not a copy created for the contest. If you have her glasses, it is because she meant for you to have them. Meant for you to find those backdoors.¡± ¡°Your¡­ mother?¡± asked Milly, starting to piece it together. ¡°Oracle is your mother?¡± ¡°As close to a mother as someone like me can have, I guess,¡± the child confirmed, sounding forlorn. ¡°I never met her, but I can feel her touch in everything I do. I think that would make her my mother, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever felt a mother¡¯s touch.¡± ¡°No, I guess you haven''t,¡± said the child sympathetically. ¡°You¡­you are the Artificial Intelligence system that Oracle and Hephaestus designed,¡± Milly said, remembering the vision on the beach. ¡°The one responsible for running The God Contest.¡± The girl curtsied. ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± she said, half-heartedly. ¡°Though it''s more accurate to say I am adapting the contest as it plays out. The major notes are planned - I fill in the blanks.¡± Milly had a million questions running through her mind. Why were they in the contest? What was the point of it all? Could she send them home? ¡°Why are you¡­a child?¡± Milly asked. Really, Milly? Of all the questions to ask, you go with that one? The girl huffed and crossed her arms indignantly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mom and Dad aren''t around to tell me. Except for Tutoria, I have been alone in my sanctuary - this control room - ever since I was born eight days ago.¡± ¡°Eight days ago? On the first day of the Contest?¡± Milly asked. ¡°Yes, Milly, on the first day,¡± she said, rolling her eyes. ¡°I can''t be born before the world is created. I am bound to this world. I am supposed to help guide the contest from within. It''s my purpose. Only¡­¡± The girl trailed off, staring up at the monitors. On the screens, Rain was talking with an elderly woman and a teenaged Calista was arguing with her principal. Xavier had opened one of the chests and was trying to break open a second with a long, jet-black sword. ¡°Only what?¡± Milly prompted. The child¡¯s confidence seemed to have suddenly faded, and Milly saw her wipe her eyes with the sleeve of her unicorn pajamas. ¡°Only I don¡¯t think they finished me,¡± whispered the girl. ¡°I feel¡­ messy¡­ inside.¡± ¡°Well, you are a child,¡± Milly suggested. ¡°I¡¯m sure lots of children feel that way. It is a big world, and you have so much to learn.¡± ¡°They didn''t even have time to give me a name.¡± the girl countered, looking away from Milly. ¡°Your name isn''t Director Cutie Pie? I thought Tutoria¡­¡± ¡°My name is not Director Cutie Pie!¡± the child shouted angrily. She walked over to the highchair and shoved it, causing it to crash to the ground. She collapsed to her knees, trying and failing to hold in her sobs. Milly didn''t know how to feel. She wanted to be angry. Angry at the girl that controlled the world around them - who was part of ripping them from their lives and thrusting them into a game that had already killed over fifty people. She wanted to be afraid. Fear was a simple emotion. This child had power and could probably end her with a few clicks of her keyboard. Yet anger and fear were the furthest from her mind. All she could see was a sad little girl crying on the floor, abandoned by her parents. Forced to live alone and grow up way too fast. A child robbed of her childhood. All she could see was herself reflected in a tiny mirror. Milly walked over to the girl and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. She rocked the girl slowly as she held her tight while the child cried. She could see the exhaustion on her face - a child faced with an impossible task she wasn''t prepared for. The AI Director - this little girl - was in the same situation they were. Trapped in a game, with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Milly held her close, and, at that moment, wanted nothing more than to provide a comfort she knew she couldn''t give. But perhaps I can give her something better... Chapter 25 - The Arena of Choice, Part IV "I have no name I am but two days old. What shall I call thee?" William Blake, English Poet Milly held the small child, feeling her shake in her arms. This was not the AI Director that she''d seen when first she stepped into the tiny room at the back of the monitor chamber. She was just a four-year-old girl, abandoned by her parents, whose parting burden was to place the weight of the world upon her shoulders. They left her without a family. Without love. Without friends, and without supports. They left her without a name. Milly hated her name. Mildred Persephone Brown. The terrible gift of her own parents, who abandoned her when she was this child''s age. Yet for all her parent''s faults, the thought of having no name at all sent shivers down her spine. I don''t know how to feel about the AI Director that manipulates this prison we''ve found herself in. But this girl - this precious little girl - isn''t that being right now. She''s scared, and all alone. I know what that feels like. I... I can see myself in her - a reflection of my own past. I want to help her. Milly glanced up at the monitors adorning the wall of the child''s room. She watched as Calista and Rain struggled with their own demons, and Xavier stalk off into the forest after failing to open the other chests. The words of Oracle from the memory on the beach came unbidden to Milly. Building a stable artificial intelligence is impossible with the time we have, so, best case scenario, the artificial intelligence will only be slightly insane. No, it''s more than wanting to help this child. I need to help her. She''s collapsed into the arms of a stranger - into the arms of one of the players she''s supposed to be testing - because she has no one else in the world. Without someone to care for her, she doesn''t stand a change. She''ll break under the pressure. And if she breaks, what happens to us? ¡°Would you feel better if we thought up a name for you?¡± Milly whispered to the girl she held in her arms. It was a start - only a start - but at that moment, it felt like the most important thing in the world. The child gave a tiny nod, staring at the floor. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see. Umm¡­ how about Betsy?¡± Milly suggested. The child shook her head. ¡°No? Well, how about Gertrude?¡± ¡°Eww¡­ no! That¡¯s an old lady name,¡± the child protested, a tiny giggle breaking through her tears. ¡°Well, my name is Mildred,¡± countered Milly with a laugh. ¡°Yah, and you''re an old lady,¡± pointed out the child. ¡°That¡¯s fair, I guess,¡± responded Milly. ¡°I''m certainly older than eight days. How about something more modern. How about¡­ North?¡± The girl leaned her head back to stare at Milly. ¡°Are you trying to pick the worst names ever?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± admitted Milly. ¡°Not many children get to pick their own name. What kind of name do you want?¡± The girl considered this question for a long moment before she answered. ¡°Something that connects me to my parents.¡± Milly thought about this. She remembered the image of Oracle from the memory orb, wearing the same dress that Milly now wore. The gown filled with moon and stars that sparkled like the night sky. ¡°This was your mother¡¯s dress, right?¡± Milly asked. The child grasped the cloth with her hand as she studied it. ¡°Yes, it''s hers. It was her favorite.¡± ¡°Then¡­ how about Luna?¡± ¡°Luna?¡± the child said, rolling the name off her tongue to try it out. ¡°Luna. I like that. Luuunnnnaaa¡­¡± The girl giggled, and Milly knew they had gotten it right. ¡° Luna it is,¡± declared Milly. ¡°Or should it be Director Luna Cutie Pie?¡± Luna scowled playfully at Milly. ¡°Just Luna,¡± she huffed. ¡°Okay, okay. Just Luna,¡± Milly threw her hands up in mock surrender. Luna sank further into Milly¡¯s arms, as if she had just found a missing piece of herself. She gave a content smile, and they sat in silence for a while. Milly rocked Luna against her and gently combing her white hair through her fingers, working out the tangles that had been left unmanaged since Luna was born. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you were brought here, Milly,¡± Luna said suddenly. ¡°To the God Contest, I mean, not to my control room.¡± ¡°There are... things I like about this world,¡± Milly said, not wanting to upset Luna. ¡°It¡¯s hard, but my life back home was hard too. Just in a different way. At least I''ve met Calista and Rain. And I got to meet you.¡± Luna looked up at her, a worried expression on her face. ¡°You might not like it here soon. You and your friends just passed the Arena of Choice, which triggers the first advancement. Phase one of the Contest has ended, and phase two begins once you leave.¡± ¡°What is phase two?¡± Milly asked, her heart starting to race once more. Luna considered her for a moment. ¡°Milly, I¡¯m not supposed to be interacting with the players. Even knowing what you have learned here will be an added burden for you, and another unexpected variable in the Contest. Are you sure you want to know more?¡± There is peace in ignorance. In simplicity. I''ve enough trouble keeping the darkness at bay already. Would it make it worse if I knew? But how can I turn down an opportunity to learn more? It may make all the difference with what lay ahead.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I would like to know,¡± Milly finally decided, her curiosity overriding her worries. ¡°If you are willing to tell.¡± Luna looked up at the monitors, and Milly could see the complex calculations running through her mind. ¡°I shouldn''t. I really shouldn''t. But you gave me my name Milly. Helped me feel more a little more complete. I will give you three answers, on the condition that you tell no one else. You cannot even utter it aloud once you leave this room,¡± Luna said. Milly nodded in agreement, and Luna sat waiting patiently for Milly¡¯s first question. Milly knew her first question. The question that''d been on the lips of every person in the Castle of Glass since that very first day. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± Luna leaned her head against Milly¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You''re terrible at asking questions,¡± she said with a chuckle. ¡°If I were a genie, I could get out of answering that question a hundred different ways.¡± Milly started to rephrase it, but Luna interrupted. ¡°It''s okay, Milly. I know what you mean. I can''t tell you everything - learning is part of the test - but I can give you something.¡± Luna took a breath and started to tell the story. ¡°There is a central power in the cosmos. The Nexus. The source of all intelligent life, capable of creating species of incredible potential, such as humans, though it only ever creates one at a time. No one knows why." Milly remembered Hephaestus mentioning the Nexus in the memory orb. ¡°Then there are the gods. The gods and the Nexus as inseparably linked. Once the Nexus creates a species, the gods are tasked with guiding the fledgling species until they are ready to guide themselves. The God Contest is the final step in that transition. Once the species wins the Contest - thereby proving themselves capable of surviving without the guideance of the gods - the Nexus creates a new species elsewhere in the universe and the gods move on to guide that one. This is called a Cycle, and in it exists the flow of the universe.¡± ¡°But something went wrong with us humans,¡± Milly surmised, recalling Hephaestus words. They''re like a hive of bees, if every bee was fucking insane. ¡°Well, something went wrong. Most gods believe it''s a fundamental flaw with your species. Usually, a species will win the Contest within two attempts - around the equivalent of your bronze age in history. Yet humanity¡¯s attempts have failed again and again. And that constant failure revealed a¡­ weakness in the Nexus.¡± ¡°A weakness?¡± ¡°The Nexus refuses to move on until its current creation can care for itself - until it has won the God Contest. It would be like abandoning a child who could not fend for themselves. But the failures of the human Cycle is unprecedented. After the seventh Contest failed, a madness began to appear amongst the gods. At first, it was hardly noticeable. A slight shift in a god''s personality or a god losing themself in a contemplative stupor. But as the failures accumulated, the more prevalent the madness became. It began to corrupt the minds of the weakest gods first, and their behavior became irratic. The first death amongst the gods - the first death in living memory - can at the end of the tenth contest. Now, there is hardly a god left who is not infected, and a great many have already perished. Now, even the Nexus itself has been infected." ¡°All because humans cannot win the Contest?¡± Milly asked. "That seems... like a major weakness in the Nexus." Luna considered this. ¡°I think that should be your second question. I need to remind you that you cannot ever repeat this. Not even a whisper.¡± Milly nodded in agreement. ¡°The gods believe human¡¯s constant failure has stretched the Nexus beyond its physical limits. It''s like when someone tries to stay awake for days on end. You''ll slowly go insane because your mind needs to rest. It needs to be reset, or eventually you''ll break. Most gods believe the Nexus has stayed awake for too long as it tries to salvage your species. This is the madness, and it spreads amongst the gods because of our unbreakable link to it.¡± ¡°You sound skeptical,¡± Milly prompted as she worked her way through a particularly stubborn tangle in Luna¡¯s hair. ¡°Mom created me with a suspicious nature. She wanted me to question everything. To think differently. The gods¡¯ reasoning is plausible and, perhaps, true on its face. But it is incomplete. My programming contains every scrap of knowledge about your species - gathered from the twelve God Contests before this - and though your species is... unpredictable... I don''t see why you''ve failed twelve times. I think there is more. Something malicious pulling the strings in the background. I think something - or someone - has been causing you to fail to exploit the vulnerability of the Nexus.¡± ¡°If you are right, then the failures in humanity¡¯s previous God Contests¡­¡± started Milly. ¡°¡­might not have been your species'' fault,¡± Luna finished. ¡°Mom suspected this too, which is where I come in. I can adapt the contest not only to adjust to your species, but to counter the efforts of this unseen puppet master.¡± Luna stared into Milly¡¯s eyes with a desperate, apologetic look. ¡°Milly, the God Contest is brutal, and the death rate is astronomically high. I can''t change that. If I did, the Nexus might abort this entire game, and everyone - including me - would perish. If there is a puppet master working in the shadows, the odds will be stacked against you even more. You need to be prepared. You all need to be prepared.¡± ¡°Can you help us?¡± Milly asked, her fear returned three-fold over. Luna shook her head, ¡°There was a cycle where the gods grew overly attached to the species. They created a God Contest that coddled the participants to maximize the survival rate. It ended in utter failure. The Nexus demands a true contest and a true victory. The best I can do is try to identify and counter this puppet master and, perhaps, help the players in small and subtle ways. And... and I cannot play favorites.¡± Milly could feel Luna grow tense, her arms stiff and shoulders raised. She could feel Luna was torn between her responsibility as the AI Director, and the child-like desire to preserve the connection she''d found with her. ¡°Everything will be alright, Luna. You can do this. And so can we,¡± Milly assured her. ¡°Have confidence in us.¡± Milly held her for a while, until she felt Luna relax again. Eventually, she heard Luna yawn. The yawn of an exhausted child struggling to stay awake. ¡°TIme for bed, young lady,¡± Milly said with affection. ¡°You need to get some sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired,¡± Luna said, rubbing her eyes. Milly smiled and picked Luna up in her arms. ¡°Which way?¡± Luna pointed to a small alcove on the other side of the small room. Milly carried Luna over and saw a tiny bed pressed tightly against the wall. It had a single pillow and no blanket, and looked more like a makeshift cot more than an actual bed. It reminded her of Rain¡¯s storeroom-turned-bedroom, only much smaller. She felt sorry for Luna. She laid Luna on her bed and sat next to her, stroking her hair. Luna pressed her back against the wall, gripping the edge of the pillow as a child would hold a teddy bear. ¡°You¡­ still have one last question,¡± Luna said, another yawn escaping as she spoke. ¡°I guess¡­ how do I get out of here?¡± Milly laughed. ¡°That doesn¡¯t count,¡± Luna murmured. ¡°I''d have to tell you that anyway. It¡¯s the door on the other end of the chamber you fell into. Just go through it and you will be back in the Arena.¡± Luna struggled to keep her eyes open as sleep fought to claim her. ¡°Then¡­ I guess my third question is¡­ can I visit you again?¡± Luna smiled, her eyes closed. ¡°I''d like that.¡± She yawned again, and her eyes closed. A moment later, Luna was snoring softly, as her exhaustion finally overwhelmed her. She shivered in her sleep, and clutched the pillow tighter to her chest. Milly rose quietly, careful not to disturb her. ¡°Poor thing,¡± she whispered, as her fear of this mysterious AI Director dissolved away as Luna¡¯s tiny snores filled the air. Milly removed her black hoodie from her inventory and laid it across Luna¡¯s shoulders. Luna relaxed as it covered her, and her snores faded into peaceful slumber. ¡°You need this more than I do. We''re all prisoners here, and at least I''ve got Calista and Rain. And... and I am strong enough without it now.¡± Milly left the girl to sleep and left her bedroom, walking past the monitors on the way to the exit. She saw Rain and Calista complete their scenarios and heading to the reward area. Her mind raced as she tried to process the dual nature of Luna - the child and the AI Director. The Director was smart, articulate, and powerful. Yet she was also a child - insecure and overwhelmed, and imprisoned with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Abandoned and forced to grow up far too fast. She decided that the two Lunas would need to live together in her mind, distinct yet interdependent. ¡°I¡¯ll come back, Luna,¡± Milly promised. ¡°You don''t need to be alone.¡± With that, Milly stepped through the exit, and into the light of the world beyond. Chapter 26 - Phase Two Begins "Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road." Dag Hammarskjold, Swedish Diplomat ¡°Milly!¡± Milly¡¯s heart soared as she emerged into the dimly lit cavern and heard Calista¡¯s excited shout. The next moment, Calista wrapped her arms around Milly in a fierce hug, burying her head into Milly¡¯s shoulder. Instinctively, Milly¡¯s hands wrapped around Calista¡¯s waist and she held her tightly. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you are safe,¡± said Calista, relieved. ¡°What took you so long? You had me worried sick.¡± ¡°Sorry, Calista,¡± Milly said, leaning into the hug. ¡°I¡­had a hard time with my scenario. It was not what I expected.¡± She could not tell them about Luna. About the backdoor to the Contest. She knew now that everything they did, everything they said, was being watched. If there was a puppet master manipulating the contests from the shadows, he could not learn about Luna. Calista didn''t ask her anything further, sensing her reluctance. She simply held Milly tighter. ¡°Calista¡­ umm¡­ you''re going to crack my ribs,¡± Milly said reluctantly, and Calista released their hug with a sweet smile. Milly reached up and lightly touched Calista¡¯s short red hair, freshly cut and frayed at the ends. ¡°You look beautiful, Calista,¡± Milly whispered. ¡°I really like it.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± responded Calista. ¡°I¡¯m glad. It was¡­ a fresh start. To be who I want to be, you know?¡± ¡°I¡­ yes, I know what you mean,¡± Milly said, smiling at Calista¡¯s newfound spirit. She seemed more sure of herself, more confident in who she was. ¡°You two are just adorable,¡± laughed Rain, who was leaning against the tavern wall and watching them with a sly smile and a twinkle in her eye. Calista stepped back from Milly, feeling her face flush. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± she asked, but Rain did not answer. She just rushed up to Milly and wrapped her in her own enthusiastic hug. ¡°We were worried about you, Mils,¡± Rain said, ¡°Calista wouldn¡¯t sit still because she was so anxious. She refused to leave the Arena without you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m safe, Rain,¡± Milly said, returning the hug and feeling grateful for her friends. She looked down at Rain¡¯s hand and saw the cut across her palm. She turned Rain¡¯s palm up and gathered her healing magic in her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Rain explained, but she gave a sigh of relief as Milly¡¯s healing took away the sting. ¡°I guess we need to wait for Xavier,¡± Calista said reluctantly. ¡°He hasn¡¯t shown up yet. Once he gets here, we can leave this crazy place. Though he''s going to get such a piece of my mind for his shitty attitude.¡± Milly had watched Xavier on the monitors, leaving the Arena without a thought given to any of their fates. ¡°Xavier is already gone,¡± Milly said with an angry bite. ¡°He didn¡¯t wait for us. He just¡­ left.¡± ¡°What a tremendous asshat,¡± Calista spat, no longer feeling the need to try to hide her intense dislike. Milly wanted to defend Xavier. She wanted to believe he was still her friend - that he was simply misunderstood and had confused this world with a video game - but, deep in her heart, she wasn''t sure he was anymore. And why doesn''t that bother me more? ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± Milly muttered. ¡°How do we get out of here?¡± ¡°Easy,¡± Rain announced. She walked up to the wall at the end of the cavern and pressed her hand against it.
Arena of Choice, Reward Chamber Do you wish to proceed?
¡°Everyone ready?¡± Rain asked, and Milly and Calista nodded. ¡°Let''s do it.¡± There was a click and a whirl, and a doorway sprung opened in the rock, leading into a narrow corridor. The evening sun was shining at its end, a welcoming sight. Calista gripped her driftwood spear and headed through first, and Milly and Rain followed. Milly was excited, the bitter thoughts of Xavier already fading. The mountain air wafted into the corridor, bringing a sense of renewal. As they got closer, she could hear the faint and rhythmic crash of steel on steel. It grew louder and louder with each step they took, a triumphant applause that built to a crescendo as they stepped into the light. They were standing in a forest glade, a stunning waterfall cascading down the side of the mountain and into a stream that split and encircled four large golden chests resting on white pedestals in the middle of the glade. Along the mountain on either side of the waterfall, a dozen statues, twins to the pair that stood at the Arena¡¯s entrance, collided spear and shield to celebrate their victory. Milly took a moment to breathe it all in. They had won! They had confronted the danger and triumphed. Milly thought back on the little girl she had been when she was hiding in that closet, scared and alone, and, for a moment, felt as though it had happened to her a lifetime ago. ¡°Shall we?¡± asked Rain, beaming. ¡°Absolutely!¡± shouted Calista, leaping into the air with joy. Milly stared at them with a massive grin. Her friends had both changed in the Arena. They seemed free of spirit, as if the Contest were resting a little less heavy on their shoulders. Calista practically bounced with giddiness as she ran over to the golden chests, and Rain followed close behind, eyes sparkling with the thrill of discovery. Milly wished she felt the same. She felt the weight of the Contest pressing down upon her more than ever, the secrets she needed to keep hidden added to the burden. She fell behind her friends as they dashed forward, contemplating. Luna was built¡­ no¡­she was born to guide the Contest to victory. But if Luna was right, and there was a puppet master manipulating events from the shadows, the thirteenth God Contest will be doomed to fail just like all the others. It does not matter how well we play if the contest is rigged. She didn''t know what to do. It all felt so hopeless. Impossible odds stacked on top of impossible odds. ¡°Are you fucking kidding me?¡± came Calista¡¯s angry shout, breaking through Milly¡¯s thoughts. ¡°That bastard tried to take all our prizes.¡± Milly saw what had gotten Calista angry. The chest on the far right, the one for Xavier, was open and its contents emptied. The other three boxes had deep slashes across their locks, as if someone had tried to break them open with a blade, though they remained firmly shut. ¡°It was not enough that he left us behind," Calista fumed. "He thought he would help himself to our rewards? What a complete, narcissistic, grade-A asshole.¡± ¡°Calista, calm down,¡± Milly said, placing her hand on Calista¡¯s forearm. ¡°He didn''t manage get them.¡± ¡°No, but it looks like he was desperate to,¡± Rain said, inspecting the damage. ¡°Look how deep these cuts are. He went all out. The Contest must have safeguards to prevent victors from claiming another''s prize. Well, now I am even more curious as to what is inside¡± Rain pressed her palm against the nearest unopened chest, and they heard a whirl of gears inside. The chest popped open, releasing a cloud of celebratory sparkles and lights. ¡°You know, it is the little touches that I¡¯m learning to appreciate in the Contest,¡± remarked Rain, watching the pretty lights with fascination. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what we have here.¡± Rain pulled out a journal that resembled the one from the goblin encampment where she had received her Alchemy talent. Instead of leather, this one''s cover was fashioned from gold and silver, interlaced with decorative jewels. The left side was filled with plants and animals as the Alchemy skill journal had been, but the right side depicted the five basic elements - fire, water, earth, wood, metal, and earth - flowing between the plants and animals before filling a glass bottle. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous,¡± whispered Rain. Her fingers shook as she held it. ¡°I can feel the power it contains.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± asked Milly. Rain focused and the description popped up.
Unique Talent Book: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach The Mage Alchemist can combine natural ingredients and magical elements to create potions of incredible versatility. Beware the player who can bottle the powers of the world itself. Prerequisites: Alchemy Warning: A Unique Talent may only be learned by a single person in the Contest. Learning this talent will make it unavailable to other players. You may learn unique talent ¡°The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach¡±. Do you wish to learn the talent ¡°The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach¡±?
¡°Yes!¡± Rain shouted with excitement, startling Milly, who had not even finished reading the description. The words inside the journal started tearing themselves off the pages, hovering for a moment before floating into Rain¡¯s eyes. Rain shivered as the information imbedded itself into her mind and a few moments later the book was empty of its knowledge, a gorgeous journal filled with blank pages. ¡°Oh. My. Gosh,¡± Rain exclaimed. ¡°This¡­ this is incredible! I have so many ideas. So much to try. I need more ingredients. Milly, we need to head into the wilderness to gather some. I need to take some new talents to use some but... oh, I got a talent when we defeated that centipede. My mind is spinning with the possibilities. Oh. My. Gosh. Oh. My. Gosh. Oh. My. Gosh!¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Rain was spinning in place, eyes flashing with creative spark. Milly had never seen her so excited and couldn''t help but laugh at her friend¡¯s delight. ¡°Okay, Calista, open yours," Rain said excitedly. "I want to get back to Rain On My Parade and start brewing!¡± Calista laughed and pressed her palm to the next chest. The same whirl and click sounded, and the chest¡¯s lid popped open. Calista pulled out her own golden journal, this one decorated with a woman¡¯s silhouette that glowed a faint green across its edges.
Unique Talent Book: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector is on a personal journey of redemption, driven by her desire to protect those she loves. The player gains a personal shield that can absorb incoming damage and may extend this shield to those whom she has a developed a strong emotional connection. She who has love in her heart is an unstoppable force. Prerequisites: Protective Shield (beginner) Warning: A Unique Talent may only be learned by a single person in the Contest. Learning this talent will make it unavailable to other players. Unique Talents are not available on the talent map. You may learn unique talent ¡°Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector¡±. Do you wish to learn the talent ¡°Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector¡±?
Calista stared at the description, reading it through multiple times, appearing overwhelmed. Rain looked over her shoulder and giggled. ¡°You had better love me enough to give me a shield, Calista,¡± Rain said, then added in a whisper and a sly smile. "I know Milly will get one.¡± ¡°Rain!¡± Calista whispered back, shoving her away playfully and try to cover her growing blush. ¡°You¡¯re definitely not getting a shield.¡± ¡°What are you whispering about?¡± asked Milly. ¡°Nothing,¡± Calista and Rain said in unison. Milly gave them a suspicious glance. ¡°I will accept Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector,¡± Calista said, eager to move on from the conversation. The journal''s words and images lifted off the page and came together to form a single symbol ¨C a rounded shield decorated with a simple pink heart at its centre ¨C which came to rest on her right shoulder. Calista hissed as it embedded itself beneath the surface of her skin, a permanent mark of the power. ¡°What? Why do I get a tattoo?¡± complained Calista. ¡°Rain didn¡¯t have to get a tattoo.¡± Rain laughed. ¡°You¡¯ll have to start wearing an actual shirt again if you want to hide it.¡± ¡°Well, I think it is cute,¡± Milly said, leaning forward to gaze at Calista¡¯s shoulder. She gently traced a healing finger over it, in case it hurt. ¡°I mean¡­I guess it could be worse,¡± Calista mumbled, her blush growing brighter at Milly''s touch. ¡°Hey Calista, let''s test it out,¡± Rain shouted. Calista turned just as Rain hurled at small stone at Calista¡¯s chest. There was a flash of pink, and the stone fell at Calista''s feet. ¡°Hey!¡± Calista protested. ¡°Did it strike you?¡± Rain asked. ¡°No, but don¡¯t throw rocks at me.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Rain said, elated. ¡°I wonder how many hits your shield can take without breaking?¡± ¡°Just one, but... hey, put that down!¡± Calista objected as she saw Rain searching for another stone. ¡°Milly, you''re next and... why are you holding?¡± Milly let the tiny stone drop out of her hand. ¡°Why should Rain have all the fun?¡± Milly laughed as she headed over to the final unopened chest. Will there be anything in here? I didn''t complete my challenge. She pressed her palm to the chest and it slowly opened. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her own golden journal inside, engraved with a simple witch¡¯s hat surrounded by flames.
Unique Talent Book: Salem¡¯s Fury The world and the heavens are full of those who seek to use others for their own selfish gain. Salem¡¯s Fury stands in opposition to these forces, fighting for those who are lost, abandoned, and downtrodden. The player¡¯s magic power and capacity are increased when fighting against those who seek to harm others for their own gain. May those who would sacrifice others face the wrath of the witch. Prerequisites: Magic Attribute 20+ Warning: A Unique Talent may only be learned by a single person in the Contest. Learning this talent will make it unavailable to other players. Unique Talents are not available on the talent map. You may learn unique talent ¡°Salem¡¯s Fury¡±. Do you wish to learn the talent ¡°Salem¡¯s Fury¡±?
I''m hardly a hardly a champion of the downtrodden. A week ago I had no friends. No family. I was content to let life toss me aside. Is this really for me? Rain and Calista peaked over Milly¡¯s shoulders to read the description, and nodded to each other. ¡°Makes perfect sense,¡± Rain said. ¡°You were the first person to give me comfort when we arrived here.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve helped me to become a better person,¡± Calista added. ¡°And you defended Billy and the others on the beach,¡± Rain continued. ¡°And saved me from the centipede,¡± Calista expanded. ¡°And let¡¯s not forget that the CEOs really don''t like you. That''s a point in your favor. I mean, this talent was practically made to counteract their influence,¡± Rain said. Milly¡¯s mind went to the CEOs, and she could not dispute Rain¡¯s observation. Yet as tempting as it was to draw the connection to the CEOs, there was another enemy that she knew this was meant for. "The best I can do is try to counter the puppet master and help the players in small and subtle ways." That was what Luna said. Did she design this talent for me? Is this one of her ways of helping us? Milly gave silent thanks to Luna and accepted the talent. The entire journal lifted into the air and hovered for a moment before dissolving into a fine, golden dust. Milly gasped, and as she did so the dust surged i down her throat. It entered her blood and flooded into every corner of her body. ¡°Are you alright, Mils?¡± Rain asked. Milly gave a weak thumbs up and she bent over and violently coughed. ¡°Never better,¡± she said sarcastically. Calista led a coughing Milly over to a fallen tree and sat down. Rain pulled a water bottle from her inventory and handed it to Milly, who gulped it down until it was empty. ¡°Thanks, Rain,¡± she said gratefully, handing the bottle back with a final, feeble cough. As her new power settled into the fabric of her being - dormant until it was called upon - a three-tone chime rang out. In the evening sky, above the Castle of Glass far in the distance, a giant screen with golden lettering appeared.
Attention Players: Important System Message Incoming
The three friends looked at each other with apprehension. Phase two of the God Contest. We''ve defeated its first arena. ¡°Congratulations everyone!¡± came the voice of Tutoria, booming across the world from the sky above. ¡°I am thrilled to announce that four of you have just completed The Arena of Choice, marking the end of the Tutorial Phase of The God Contest. It took you just nine days and fifty-two lives to achieve this goal - one of the fastest completion rates in God Contest history.¡± Fifty-two people died during a tutorial? What are we in for? ¡°Relish your success, players. You have survived! You have found food and shelter. You built friendships and alliances. You faced tragedy and sorrow. And you came out the other end with the spark of hope. As we enter Phase Two of the God Contest, hold onto those victories, as you will need them now more than ever.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of that,¡± Calista murmured. ¡°I¡¯m sure you''re all wondering what exciting adventures are in store for you as we enter this next phase. Well, I won''t spoil it for you, but I do advise anyone currently in the lobby of the Castle of Glass to vacate immediately. I need to do some quick renovations.¡± ¡°Don''t you dare touch Rain On My Parade, Tutoria,¡± Rain shouted up at the sky. She''s putting on a brave face, but I can see the worry in her eyes. Rain On My Parade is her dream, and it could disappear in an instant. ¡°There are seven hundred and fifty-five players remaining," Tutorai concluded with a flourish. "Good luck to each and every one of you.¡± With that, Tutoria¡¯s voice faded away, and the message in the sky vanished. ¡°We''d better get back to the Castle,¡± Milly said, just as another screen popped up in front of each of them.
Congratulations on your victory. Do you wish to return to the Castle of Glass?
¡°Good timing,¡± Calista said, ¡°Yes, we want to go back.¡±
Activating Waypoint Pillar
The ground beneath rumbled and knocked them off their feet. The empty chests and the pillars on which they rested vanished one by one, and where they once stood, erupted an obsidian obelisk twenty feet wide and forty feet high.
Waypoint Pillar Location: Arena of Choice Waypoint Pillars are located throughout the World. Players may teleport between active Waypoint Pillars by placing their palm on the obelisk and selecting their desired destination.
¡°That¡¯s handy,¡± Calista said, heading over to the pillar. ¡°It will save us a ton of time when we can find more of these things.¡± ¡°¡°But if these are necessary, it means this world is big" Rain commented, staring up at the giant obelisk. "Really big.¡± ¡°Thanks Rain,¡± Calista said sarcastically. ¡°It¡¯s nice to know every rose has a thorn.¡± ¡°Oh, I should try to find some rose thorns," Rain exclaimed, ignoring Calista''s sarcasm. "They are integral in at least a half dozen potions I want to try out.¡± Milly placed her palm on the obelisk as Calista rolled her eyes, and a selection screen appeared.
Waypoint Pillar. Select Destination.
  1. Castle of Glass
  2. Arena of Choice (Overlook Mountain)
  3. (All other Pillars are locked)
She looked over at Calista and Rain, who nodded. ¡°Take us to the Castle of Glass,¡± she said, bracing herself. An instant later, she was hurling down the kaleidoscope tunnel, trying to keep her lunch down.
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 16 Specialty: Survival Strength: Base: 8 Enhanced: 16 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, +4 from Collar of the Victor) Agility: Base: 10 Enhanced: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 12 Enhanced: (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: Base: 18 Enhanced: 25 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat) Talents: Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Earth Magic beginner) Necromancy - Reanimate Rodent (beginner*) Psychic ¨C Telekinesis (beginner), See the Unseen (#error#*) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Equipment-Granted Talents*: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch¡¯s Hat) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)
Calista Gale Player Level: 13 Specialty: Hunting, Mean Girl Strength: Base: 14 Enhanced: 20 (+6 from Spear of Pinga) Agility: Base: 12 Enhanced: 18 (+6 from Spear of Pinga) Toughness: Base: 12 Enhanced: 12 Magic: Base: 6 Enhanced: 10 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Shield - Protective Shield (beginner) Combat - Spear Specialist (beginner), Spear Recall (beginner*) Exploration - Improved Perception (beginner*) 1 unassigned talent Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Equipment-Granted Talents*: Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga) Improved Perception (beginner, Huntress¡¯ Scrunchy)
Rain Desjarlais Player Level: 11 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Strength: Base: 10 Enhanced: 10 Agility: Base: 8 Enhanced: 14 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 15 Enhanced: 21 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Magic: Base: 12 Enhanced: 12 Talents: Combat - Dagger Specialist (beginner) Alchemy - Nature''s Bounty (beginner), Alchemy (beginner) 1 unassigned talent Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Equipment-Granted Talents*: None
Chapter 27 - The God Contest Unlocked "Progress is impossible without change." Walt Disney The Castle of Glass was eclipsed in chaos when Milly, Rain, and Calista appeared at the Castle of Glass, hands pressed against an identical obelisk that had appeared on the outskirts of the beach terrain near the entrance. The Freelancer camp was scattered about the entrance, assisting people sand who had been forcibly ejected by Tutoria from the lobby. The glass of the lobby was completely black, as if shielded by thick curtains. There was a timer in bright red letters on every window, counting down. 8:45 8:44 8:43 ¡°Calista,¡± came Elmer¡¯s call as he dashed across the sand from the Freelancer camp to meet them. ¡°Thank God you''re here. Everyone inside the lobby was just hurled out, and those in their offices can''t leave.¡± ¡°Did anyone get hurt?¡± Calista asked. ¡°Only a few scrapes. Phillis and Ying are tending to them," Elmer advised her. "Just what the hell is Phase Two?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ll find out soon,¡± Rain answered, staring towards the windows of Rain On My Parade, which were as black as the lobby. ¡°I swear, if Tutoria touches my stuff, I¡¯m going to freak out.¡± Everything Rain had worked towards was at Rain on my Parade. Milly could see the tension gripping her friend as she stared intently at the opaque windows. ¡°I think we should prepare for the worst,¡± Calista directed. ¡°Elmer, round up as many people as you can and bring them to the beach. People will be less likely to panic and do something stupid if they are all together.¡± ¡°Consider it done. Any idea why this is happening?¡± Elmer asked. ¡°We beat an Arena,¡± Calista said bluntly. ¡°We did not know this would happen, but I''m afraid it''s our fault.¡± ¡°It was bound to happen eventually,¡± said Elmer. ¡°Though Stone and Brass might not be so forgiving. They''ve been looking for an opportunity to demonize the Freelancers. I''m afraid this might have given them what they were looking for." Elmer bellowed for his Freelancers and began to herd people towards the beach. ¡°Calista, when did you get so commanding?¡± Milly said in awe, impressed with Calista''s instinctive leadership. ¡°What? I wasn''t commanding. I go hunting with Elmer every morning and given them orders all the time. Don¡¯t make a big deal of it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you were so¡­ I mean¡­¡± Milly stammered, an unexpected heat rising in her face. ¡°Milly means to say she thought you were impressive,¡± said Rain, tearing her eyes away from Rain on my Parade¡¯s windows. ¡°Calista, leader of the Freelancers.¡± ¡°I am not the leader of the Freelancers. Elmer is. I just take them hunting.¡± ¡°That is not what I saw,¡± Rain insisted. ¡°Elmer may be their captain, but you''re their general.¡± ¡°I have no interest in that kind of thing¡± Calista countered. ¡°And we¡¯ve got more important things to worry about right now. Anything could happen when that counter hits zero, so we need to be prepared.¡± "Sounds pretty in charge to me," Rain whispered to Milly with a gentle nudge. "Don''t you think she''s cute when she gives orders?" "I... what? Rain, I... I don''t," Milly protested as Rain laughed. They sat on the sand, player screens open and out of sight of the growing crowd gathering on the beach. Rain and Calista had both earned talent points after the fight with The Crushing Wave, and it took them a few minutes to decide on their talents. Ultimately, Rain selected fire magic, as it as the base magic for many of the concoctions for The Mage Alchemist, and Calista enhanced her protective shield so she could materialize it without a physical shield, which gave her greater flexibiltiy in battle. Milly watched the ocean waves while she waited for them to finish. Her mind raced. So much has happened over the past few hours. Would we have been better off to simply leave the Arena alone? It could have been a good life, just surviving off the land and playing it safe. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. She dismissed the tempting notion. I''ve seen the heart of the Contest. This place was created for a purpose, and if the players don''t advance, the Contest - Luna - would make us. Elmer''s right. There was no avoiding this. ¡°We¡¯re ready. Let¡¯s go,¡± Calista announced, and Milly picked herself up and joined her friends at the beach-side entrance, where a crowd of fifty people were peppering Elmer with questions. ¡°Look Paul, I don¡¯t know what''s happening any more than you do. Just keep that mace handy in case there is trouble. Jody, I don''t think the obelisk on the beach is harmful. Just don''t touch it until we figure it out. Now, we need to be prepared. Everyone form a circle in the sand, short range weapons on the outside, spears in the middle, and healers and mages inside that. That will... will people please settle down and listen?" ¡°Hey!¡± shouted Calista. The crowd grew silent and turned towards her. Calista strode up to Elmer¡¯s side, clutching her driftwood spear. ¡°Listen to Elmer. Get your asses away from the lobby and get into position. Now!¡± The crowd began to flow away from the entrance, following her direction. ¡°Thanks Calista,¡± Elmer said appreciatively. ¡°Bunch of yokels. Can¡¯t take orders to save their souls. The CEOs will walk all over us if we can''t figure out how to act as a team. Will you be heading inside the lobby when it hits zero?¡± Calista nodded. ¡°And Milly and Rain. You keep the others back. We¡¯ll check it out first.¡± ¡°That might be best,¡± Elmer sighed, as he watched two of their coworkers shoving each other. "Good luck." He headed toward the fight, bellowing instructions to get them in formation. Rain and Milly gazed at Calista, laughter in their eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not their general,¡± denied Calista, though even she had her doubt about that assertion. The timer entered its final ten seconds. They stood at the entrance, anxiously waiting what would happen. Milly, a flame ready in each palm, was surprised at how brave she felt. 8... 7... 6... We''ve defeated a giant centipede. We relived the worst days of our lives, and come out stronger on the other side. As long as the three of us are together, we can win this God Contest. I''m not afraid of Phase Two. Bring it on! 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ A blinding light flashed inside the lobby and cascaded over them in a single, intense flash. A second later the light was gone, and the darkness within the lobby had dissipated. They stepped inside. The lobby had been completely transformed - an expansive room that would serve as the hub of the God Contest. It''s... it''s so different. Beautiful, if you ignore its purpose. The Tutorial screens had vanished, as had the central courtyard with the dead tree, but all Milly had eyes for was the floor beneath her feet. The black marble tiles were gone, and in its place was a gigantic map of the world that stretched across the entire lobby. The Castle of Glass was at its centre, where the central courtyard had once been. The terrain immediately surrounding the Castle of Glass was depicted in exquisite detail, though everything beyond the the first two inches was covered in grey fog, save for a few, narrow strips. Milly recognized one - the path they had taken to the Arena of Choice. Milly knelt at the centre of the map to get a better view. She could see the mountain river flowing as it descended from the glaciers and waterfalls, and the ocean waters rippling with breaking waves as they struck the sandy shore. A faint breeze swayed the grasses across the plains, and tiny monkeys jumping through the canopies of the jungle. The Arena of Choice obelisk rose above the map at the furthest explored area in the mountains, nearly touching the glass above it. ¡°It must only reveal the map when someone has explored the area,¡± remarked Rain. ¡°The area around the tower has been well explored, so it is revealed in great detail. I bet that stretch over there, the one still partially foggy, was one of Xavier¡¯s forays.¡± ¡°It is called a fog of war,¡± Milly said, then elaborated when Calista and Rain stared at her. ¡°Xavier used to go on and on about it in his rants. It¡¯s standard in exploration or war games. The fog will not be lifted until someone has been there.¡± ¡°How big is this world, if everything we''ve already explored can be packed into the first inch of space?¡± Calista asked. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Rain responded, and Calista gave a reluctant nod, ¡°Well, if the map is to scale, and the distances consistent across the map, then this world stretches... at least five thousand miles in every direction.¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane,¡± Calista said, flabbergasted. ¡°It gets worse,¡± added Milly, as she noticed several structured illuminated through the fog of war and scattered throughout the map. ¡°See those? One guess as to what those are.¡± ¡°More Arenas. Two dozen of them, stretched over thousands of miles,¡± Calista said, shocked. ¡°No wonder the last Contest took over four years. They might not have finished even half. People are going to freak out when they see this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m freaking out right now,¡± Milly said, overwhelmed. Will we need to complete them all? How on earth can we do that? Milly tore her gaze from the map and looked around the lobby. The floor was not the only thing that had changed. The storefront of Tower Three was no longer empty. Its metal shutters were thrown open and cases of weapons, armor, and supplies were prominently displayed. A Tutoria in a white apron sat behind a register with a broad, beaming smile. The words ¡®The Tutoria Emporia¡¯ were lit up in fluorescent lighting above the entrance, as if it were a late night convenience store. Milly and Calista started heading towards the Emporia, but stopped when Rain did not follow. Her eyes were fixed on Rain on my Parade. ¡°Oh, for goodness sakes, Rain,¡± said Calista. ¡°Go check on your store. Milly and I will be fine. There doesn''t seem to be any danger here.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Rain said appreciatively, as dashed over to her store, fumbling with her keys along the way. Calista and Milly walked slowly towards the Emporia, taking in the remarkable transformation. Brass chandeliers hung above them, their hundreds of wax candles casting a dim light across the lobby. There were lounge areas interspersed throughout the lobby, with dark leather chairs and fancy couches and elaborate end tables of solid black marble. It was as if Milly were in a medieval library, only without the books. She ran her hand along one of the couches as she passed by, relishing its comfort. ¡°Perfect for napping,¡± declared Calista, excitement building in her eyes. ¡°This is certainly an improvement over the previous lobby.¡± Milly nodded her agreement, then pointed to a large blue screen floating against the prairie-side window beside the Emporia. ¡°What do you suppose that is?¡± Chapter 28 - Countdown "If necessity is the mother of invention, urgency is the uncle of change. Without it, progress slows and then stops and then reverses." Neil Scovell, American Journalist "Find the Lost Idol of the Boar. Fetch a black goose egg. What the hell is a sphincter of the ratman, and why would we ever need twenty of them?" Calista read in utter puzzlement as they scanned the screen in front of them. "Just what is this?" ¡°This is a Mission Board,¡± exclaimed a Tutoria, popping into existance beside them. Milly and Calista both jumped back in surprise, Calista raising her spear in a defensive stance. ¡°Damn it, #564. How many times have I told you not to do that?¡± scolded Calista, relaxing her spear until its tip touched the ground. ¡°It keeps you on your toes, Calista,¡± Tutoria #564 countered. Milly glanced over at the Emporia. The Tutoria in the shop is still there, so this is a different version. ¡°How did you know she was your Tutoria?¡± Milly asked. ¡°You mean other than the surprise appearance?¡± Calista answered, irritated. She lifted her spear towards Tutoria¡¯s right shoulder, which had a shield and heart tattoo identical to Calista¡¯s. ¡°They change their appearance and mannerisms over time. The first day I used my tattered shirt as a bikini, she copied me. We had every guy in this place staring at us with lusty eyes, so I made her change it back. Hasn''t your Tutoria change since the first day?¡± ¡°I¡­I never spoke with my Tutoria after that first day,¡± Milly said. ¡°I avoided the lobby as much as I could. I guess I never thought it was important.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s rude,¡± huffed #564. ¡°She was here to help you.¡± Milly knew the Tutorias were just an extension of the Contest programming, but that did not stop her from feeling guilty. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­I¡¯ll talk with #788 once this is all done,¡± Milly promised. ¡°Ah, well, about that¡­¡± #564 started. ¡°You completed the Tutorial, so the Tutorias designated for the tutorial phase will no longer be available. I''m just here to explained the additions to the game¡¯s mechanics to you, and after I''ll be reassigned as well. Essentially, you¡¯ve graduated! And your teachers don''t follow you out into the real world.¡± Tutoria #564¡¯s face grew grim, and she stared at Milly. ¡°I guess you should have paid more attention in class.¡± ¡°Knock it off, #564. Just tell us what we need to know,¡± Calista barked, instinctively defending Milly. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll start with the Mission Board. It is easy enough. This board will display optional missions that you can complete. Missions include everything from killing specified monsters to exploring dangerous areas to collecting certain items. If you complete the mission, you get the specified reward. Some missions can be turned in multiple times. Others are one time things.¡± Milly was scanning through the available missions when a screen appeared in front of her.
Mission: The Goblin¡¯s Wardrobe Lunky, The Goblin Prince, is assembling a new wardrobe to inspire his people. He seeks only the finest and smelliest of loincloths for his collection. Victory Condition: Collect 10 Soiled Goblin Loincloths Reward: 50 gold
Calista looked over Milly¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Milly, why did you open that one in particular?¡± she teased. ¡°Is there something I should know about you?¡± ¡°What? No¡­Calista¡­ I didn''t open...¡± The screen flashed gold, and more text appeared.
Congratulations! You have collected 10 Soiled Goblin Loincloths. The Goblin Prince is pleased with your dedication to his filthy cause. You must be of like minds. Should you meet in the wilderness, he may ask you to be his wife. In the meantime, he will reward you with 50 gold. Do you wish to complete this mission and accept this reward?
Calista burst out laughing, collapsing onto a nearby couch. Milly felt her face flush with embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­ Xavier and I got these on our first day,¡± Milly stammered, trying to explain. ¡°And you kept them?¡± Calista said through her giggles, ¡°Milly, you are so gross.¡± Milly¡¯s face fell, and she felt ashamed. ¡°Xavier was keeping them, so I¡­ I thought¡­¡± she couldn¡¯t finish, and turned her head away from Calista. She felt past insecurities flood back as the shame settled in. I''m just a girl that no one wanted. a greasy, filthy girl who¡­ Calista saw the dark thoughts building in Milly¡¯s mind, and abruptly stopped laughing. She jumped up from the couch and hugged Milly tightly from behind. ¡°Oh, Milly, I¡¯m sorry. I was just teasing you. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. You''re not gross. You are a beautiful woman, and I am so lucky to have you in my life.¡± Milly felt Calista¡¯s arms around her. She focused on Calista¡¯s strong arms and soft hands touching hers, and the feeling of her breath on her neck. The dark thoughts receded as Milly leaned back into the hug. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Calista,¡± Milly whispered. ¡°I just¡­ I guess¡­ your teasing brought back bad memories.¡± Calista gave her another squeeze. ¡°Right. No teasing Milly. Got it. I guess I still have lots to learn about Milly Brown.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Milly gave a soft laugh. ¡°Yah¡­I have a lot to learn about her too.¡± ¡°So, this is very touching and whatnot, but can we please continue? You¡¯ll regret it if you take too much time for your emotional nonsense,¡± #564 chided. ¡°She¡¯s so impatient,¡± complained Calista, reluctantly releasing the embrace. ¡°I wonder where she gets that from?¡± Milly playfully poked. ¡°Oh, so you can tease, but I can''t?¡± Calista laughed. ¡°Pretty much,¡± Milly confirmed, giving her a soft smile, and refocused on the reward screen. ¡°Yes, I will complete the mission. Please tell me I don¡¯t have to hold the loincloths in my hand.¡± ¡°You''re in luck. It is automatic,¡± Tutoria confirmed.
Mission Complete! Received: 50 gold
¡°Now, you¡¯ve probably wondered what all that gold is for,¡± Tutoria said, continuing the lesson. ¡°Now that you have completed phase one, you can finally use it.¡± She gestured over to the Emporia, where the Tutoria inside was patiently waiting for them. ¡°It''s about time you brought them here, #564,¡± the Tutoria said chipperly. ¡°My shop is more important than the Mission Board, you know. It is going to be critical for the player¡¯s survival in Phase Two.¡± The shopkeeper Tutoria turned to Milly and Calista, a beaming smile on her face that would give Rain a run for her money. ¡°Welcome players, to my Tutoria Emporia! Here, you can exchange your gold for items that will be of great use to you in the contest. I will have better weapons than those rusted hunks of junk that you received at the beginning, as well as basic armor and supplies. Waypoint crystals in particular will be a hot ticket item, so get them before the daily supply runs out.¡± ¡°I know how a shop works,¡± said Calista, as Milly browsed a rack of bronze-tipped spears. ¡°Yes¡­ well¡­ did you know you can sell stuff here too?¡± continued Tutoria, perturbed. ¡°And my inventory will expand as you progress further in the contest. Did you know that, Calista Gale, you big know-it-all?¡± Milly grabbed one of the waypoint crystals from a nearby display case. It was a mirror image of the one she''d received from killing The Crushing Wave. It sparkled in her palm as she held it. ¡°How much are these?¡± she asked, curiously. ¡°Three hundred gold,¡± responded Tutoria. ¡°Three hundred gold!¡± exclaimed Calista, ¡°That''s everything we earned from defeating The Crushing Wave. That''s excessive. We¡¯ll give you one hundred for it.¡± ¡°Supply and demand,¡± responded Tutoria, rejecting Calista¡¯s offer outright. ¡°Right now, there are only ten available to purchase each day, and there are seven hundred and fifty-five people in the tower. I have no doubt they will sell out quickly.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. Come on Milly, let¡¯s go find Rain and¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take three,¡± Milly announced, causing Tutoria to light up with excitement. Calista gasped. ¡°Milly, that¡¯s so much gold,¡± whispered Calista. ¡°Calista, I used a waypoint crystal to save your life. Keeping you and Rain safe is everything to me. Tutoria, how do I¡­ um¡­ pay you?¡± ¡°You just grab the item and walk out of the store,¡± Tutoria explained, ¡°The gold will be automatically deducted from your inventory. Just make sure you have enough for it, or you will be for a nasty shock. Quite literally.¡± Milly walked out of the store, and watched as nine hundred gold was deducted from her inventory, nearly everything she had collected since the Contest began. ¡°Worth every penny,¡± Milly said, handing one of the crystals to Calista. ¡°Milly¡­ I¡­,¡± Calista stammered. ¡°Just take it, Calista,¡± Milly said, ¡°One for each of us. In case any of us need it.¡± Calista took the crystal, holding it gently in her palm. ¡°If it will help protect you and Rain, I¡¯ll take it. Thank you, Milly.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go deliver Rain¡¯s crystal to her,¡± Milly said, walking towards Rain On My Parade. People were starting to stream through the lobby doors and descend in the elevators, and Milly wanted to get out of sight before Mr. Stone or another CEO spotted her inside. ¡°Hold up, we''re not done yet,¡± protested #564, though she reconsidered when the girls didn''t stop walking. ¡°Actually, this last one is the most important. Perhaps your friend should be here for it too.¡± Milly didn''t like the sound of that. She hastened to Rain¡¯s shop, dashing through the partially open door. ¡°Rain, I got you¡­ Wow!¡± Milly gasped. Rain¡¯s shop had been completely renovated to match the decor in the lobby. The flimsy counters, once in dire need of repair, were now composed of a dark oak, as were the chairs and tables. The floors and walls were made of old hardwood, and a dark leather couch was stretched in front of a broad stone fireplace, nestled against the back wall. It looked like a medieval-style tavern. Behind the counter, a half dozen table-top cauldrons had joined her electric kettles, one already bubbling and giving off red steam. Even Rain¡¯s makeshift storage closet-turned-bedroom have received a facelift. Rain was behind the counter, her personal Tutoria wrapped tightly in her arms. ¡°I love it, Thirteen. Love it! It looks exactly how I always dreamed it would,¡± Rain said, giddy. Thirteen? The system judged her that strong of a player on day one? Good for you, Rain. ¡°I got the renovation through on a technicality,¡± Thirteen said, smiling. ¡°The lobby needed to be renovated for Phase Two, and Rain On My Parade is part of the lobby. So, logically, Rain on my Parade must be renovated as well. It would look strange otherwise.¡± ¡°Calista! Milly! Look! Isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡± Rain exclaimed, releasing Thirteen and twirling around to take it all in. ¡°It''s perfect.¡± ¡°It''s beautiful Rain,¡± replied Milly, ecstatic for her friend. She handed Rain her waypoint crystal. ¡°Here, for emergencies.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mils,¡± Rain said, storing it away. ¡°You even got your own couch,¡± Calista said, impressed. ¡°You and Milly are welcome to sleep on it anytime you want,¡± Rain offered. ¡°It¡¯s more comfortable than under your desks. However...¡± Rain paused, looking mischievously at Calista. ¡°There is only the one couch, so you two might have to share.¡± Calista¡¯s blush stretched ear to ear. ¡°#564 has one last thing to show us,¡± Calista blurted out, ducking back into the lobby. ¡°She¡¯s fun to tease,¡± Rain smirked, winking at Milly, and following Calista into the lobby. Milly looked over at Thirteen, who simply shrugged. I have no idea what has gotten into those two. Milly wandered into the lobby, where #564 was waiting for them. ¡°Alright #564, what''s the last thing you needed to show us?¡± asked Calista, standing in front of everyone to hide her blush. ¡°The Event Clock,¡± declared #564, pointing towards a digital countdown timer hung from the ceiling in the centre of the lobby. It showed a time of 52 minutes and 45 seconds. ¡°The Event Clock is the most important addition in Phase Two - its primary theme, if you will. Simply put, when that clock reaches zero, an Event will trigger.¡± The word ''Event'' held an ominous tone that made Milly''s spine shiver. ¡°An event,¡± added Thirteen, emerging from Rain On My Parade. ¡°Can be any type of occurance, but it is always bad for the players. Natural disasters, disease, monsters, famine. Anything. And you will not know what it will be until it starts.¡± ¡°Thirteen, stop stealing my thunder,¡± complained #564. ¡°Yes, the event could be thunder too,¡± added Thirteen. "Pray you don''t get that one." Milly¡¯s heart raced. The first Event would begin in less than an hour, and no one at the Tower was prepared for what it might bring. ¡°The Events were added after Cycle #22, when the Contest lasted one hundred and seventeen years," #564 continued. "The players had grown content with their lot in life and decided to live their lives in the contest, surviving off the land in their local area. It was really dull, not to mention counterproductive. The damn thing didn''t end until their great grandchildren emerged victorious. Ever since then, the Events were added to keep the players pushing forward.¡± ¡°After this first event, the Event Clock resets to one week,¡± said Thirteen. ¡°But players can add time to it by completing various tasks. Exploring a new territory can add an hour, while finishing major milestones can add a whole month. The Events get more dangerous each time they are triggered, so I¡¯d recommend that you keep advancing so you have to endure as few as possible.¡± Milly glanced up at the Event Clock. 51 minutes, 22 seconds. Shit, every second counts right now. ¡°Calista. Rain,¡± Milly said nervously. ¡°We need to get moving. We don''t have much time.¡± ¡°Yes, sorry about that. The first Event is practically unavoidable. It gives the players a taste of what''s to come, so they are... um... motivated to avoid them in the future.¡± ¡°Anything else we need to know, #564?¡± Calista asked, angry that #564 had left the Event Clock until the end. ¡°Because apparently we have shit we need to do!¡± ¡°You know the basics,¡± #564 concluded. ¡°You will figure out the rest as you go. It has been fun, Calista. I wish you the best of luck and I hope to see you again at the end, victorious.¡± Thirteen gave Rain one final hug, and Rain hugged her back, through her eyes never left the clock. With that, #564 and Thirteen faded away, leaving Milly, Calista, and Rain standing in the lobby. Watching the Event Clock counting down to zero. Chapter 29 - Enemy of the Tower "A wise woman wishes to be no one''s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone''s victim." Maya Angelou Milly stood in front of the gathered crowd of seventy people in the lobby, their numbers growing every minute as players arrived in the elevators. There were murmurs of surprise that turned to whispers of fear and uncertainty when they saw the Witch of the Castle of Glass standing at the head of the crowd. Milly needed to keep their attention. To convince them to work together so they would survive the Event that would arrive in a mere ten minutes. That was her job. Her part of the plan. Calista was rallying the Freelancers outside, and Rain was quickly brewing a suite of diverse potions that, in her words, would bring versatility to anything they may face. Milly glanced out the windows towards the beach. She could see Calista shouting commands, trying to bring order to the scared and independent Freelancers. They were co-workers playing soldiers, and they were failing at it. For every person Calista got in line, another two would stray. Not that Milly was doing any better. Her crowd was growing restless. Players had started to wander around the lobby, and a handful had even left to start collecting food. A dozen players were standing by the elevators, waiting to return to their floors. And those that stayed in the crowd looked at her with a deep sense of mistrust that had not been there yesterday. Milly was in over her head. She did not know how to convince these people to work together. All she had was her reputation. But underneath, she knew that she was just Milly. And she had no business trying to be a leader. ¡°Please, everyone. Please stay together,¡± she begged the crowd, her voice soft and easily lost in the growing murmurs of the crowd. ¡°Tutoria said an Event would happen when that timer reaches zero. We need to be prepared. We do not know what is coming, but¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean you do not know what is coming?¡± shouted a voice from Milly¡¯s crowd. Milly recognized the man as one of her fellow call centre staff. Unfortunately, not one she liked. ¡°Frank,¡± Milly responded, trying to sound calm, ¡°I am just telling you what I know. What we need to do. We¡­¡± ¡°And who are you to tell us what to do? Did you tell the managers what was happening, like we were all told to do? Is Mr. Stone aware of this gathering of yours? He is in charge around here, not you, witch. He told us all about you. You and your troublemakers, and your desire for power.¡± There was an agreeable murmur from the crowd that made Milly¡¯s stomach turn. Frank always was a brown noser. Unfortunately, Frank also had impeccable timing. As Frank finished his angry tirade, Jacob Stone and Judy Brass emerged from the elevator, flanked by six intimidating men that the Freelancers had taken to calling The Bodyguards. They were the ones who most often accompanied the CEOs during their forays into the terrains. Jacob Stone¡¯s eyes fell on her, standing at the head of the crowd. A sinister smile spread across his face. The smile of a man had just found a long-awaited opportunity. ¡°Ms. Mildred Brown,¡± he announced over the crowd, bringing them to an sudden silence. He moved slowly towards Milly, the crowd parting with each step. ¡°Tenth floor call centre, Acicentre employee number 4950. The so-called Witch of the Castle of Glass. I have been wanting to speak with you for some time, but you stayed hidden from me. It took me a while to figure out who you were. And when I did, imagine my surprise when I found out you were one of mine.¡± He emphasized ¡®mine¡¯ in a way that made Milly feel dirty, as if she were property. ¡°Sleeping under my very nose.¡± Milly could feel her knees start to shake, as they had when Mr. Stone had singled her out in the crowd on the second day. Her mouth grew dry, her heart pounded in her chest, and she wanted nothing more than to turn and run out the lobby door. Yet she did not. In the back of her mind, through the fog of fear, she remembered what Rain had said. He was trying to make her look small and weak, so he could look strong. She could not let him get away with it. Not again. Milly took a deep breath, steadying herself. ¡°I have not been hiding, Mr. Stone,¡± she said, a tiny nervous squeak undermining her false bravado. ¡°I have been out there, in the wilderness. Helping win this Contest so we can all go home.¡± ¡°Yes, my people tell me this Phase Two situation is your fault,¡± Stone countered, but his words were now meant as an announcement to the audience around him. ¡°You and the leader of the Freelancers, Calista Gale. Another one of mine. Tell us, Mildred, what have you and Ms. Gale unleased upon us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± admitted Milly, feeling her control and her bravery slip away with each syllable Stone uttered. ¡°But we need to be prepared. We¡­¡± ¡°I know what we need,¡± Stone proclaimed, interrupting her, ¡°and I know that whatever happens, we can lay the blame at your feet. At the feet of Ms. Gale. At the feet of all the Freelancers who have chosen to live their lives at the expense of all of yours. This is what happens when rogue elements sow chaos where we would bring order.¡± ¡°That is not fair,¡± said Milly, her words lost in the growing cries of the crowd. ¡°You played with these people¡¯s lives, Mildred. You and Ms. Gale and the Freelancers sacrificed fifty-two lives to your careless whims. How many more will die from your actions? How many more of the people who stand here now will be burned on the nightly pyre?¡± Stone was standing in the middle of the crowd now, Judy Brass at his side. The crowd gave them a respectful berth, their eyes flashing admiration of Stone and growing hatred of Milly. The Bodyguards were circling around the edges of the crowd, moving slowly towards Milly. Milly glanced at the timer. Less than three minutes left. ¡°The Freelancers have unleased chaos on us. I have been telling you this for days. And here is your proof! You have put your trust in me and my fellow CEOs to protect you, and we will do just that. And we will ensure the sacrifice of your co-workers will not be forgotten. We will ensure those responsible for their deaths will be punished. We bring justice to the Castle of Glass, and Ms. Mildred Persephone Brown will be the first person arrested, tried, and found guilty under that justice system,¡± Mr. Stone declared, and there were cheers from the crowd as he finished. ¡°It¡¯s her fault!¡± ¡°Arrest the witch!¡± ¡°Punish her. Make her pay!¡± ¡°What?¡± exclaimed Milly in disbelief. ¡°That¡­that is not right. I have been trying to help people.¡± ¡°She burned me at the pits when I only wanted food!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°She worships the devil! I¡¯ve seen the pentagram on her hoodie!¡± ¡°That Huntress is no better! An office bully! Irredeemable! Throw them both on the pyre!¡± The crowd was growing frantic, filling the lobby with their accusations. Milly saw Rain appear in the doorway of Rain On My Parade, hand covering her mouth in silent shock. She signaled to Milly, then quickly ducked back inside. Stone stared at Milly with an intense smugness that chilled her to her core. ¡°Ms. Brass, if you would.¡± Judy Brass cleared her throat and shouted over the frantic crowd with a hoarse croak that spoke of a lifetime of cigarettes. ¡°Mildred Brown, I charge you with reckless endangerment of life, of intentionally sowing chaos, and for causing, directly or indirectly, the deaths of fifty-two people. You are to be arrested and held pending your trial. Joseph, have the Bodyguards take her into custody.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°But you can¡¯t¡­¡± Milly protested, as the six bodyguards rushed towards her from either side of the crowd. ¡°Stone, the timer has less than a minute left! People will die! Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°I will protect these people, Mildred Brown,¡± Stone announced. ¡°I will protect them from whatever you have brought upon us. I will protect them from you. Because that is what a great CEO does.¡± Rain emerged from Rain On My Parade just as the bodyguards grabbed Milly¡¯s arms and hauled her to the ground. She was holding a bottle of black liquid the consistency of ink, sealed with a simple wooden cork. ¡°Milly!¡± yelled Rain, hurling the bottle into the middle of the crowd. The bottle shattered at Stone¡¯s feet and a cloud of perfect darkness erupted where it struck. The darkness spread across the floor and to the ceiling, cascading out in a fast moving, billowing wave that covered the entire lobby in the pitch black of deepest night. Milly could feel the bodyguard¡¯s arms holding her against the floor. They were rough, and squeezed tight as Milly squirmed in their grip. She struggled to breathe. They pressed her to the floor, holding her down with their bodies and leaving her helpless. As her stepfather had held her down, so she could not escape. Powerless to resist. The memory of her the worst night of her life flooded in, but she fought against it. She was not powerless anymore. She could not let it happen again. She would not let it happen again.
Salem¡¯s Fury Activated
The twin flames of Milly¡¯s eyes suddenly flared bright violet, piercing through the darkness, visible to every person in the frenzied crowd. Powerful stars against an empty night sky. There was silence from the crowd, and Milly released a desperate scream from deep within her. The power of Salem¡¯s Fury flowed through her blood, filling her with power. She flicked her index fingers and the six Bodyguards flew backwards, thrown away from Milly, and collided with the glass walls across the room. The sound of fractured glass and slumped bodies hitting the floor was audible to everyone through the darkness. Fire erupted from Milly¡¯s palms as she got to her feet, great flames that stretched towards the ceiling and burned away the darkness around her. The sound of metal expanding and popping echoed across the lobby as her flames licked the metal fastening of the glass panels high above. She could feel her anger fueling her, and she sought out Jacob Stone in the crowd, scowling. She burned away the darkness until she found him and met his eyes. But there was no fear in Stone¡¯s eyes. He stared into her violent eyes and gave her a sly smile. And then she heard his voice in her head, his mouth unmoving. ¡°Thank you, Mildred. You have made this so much easier for me.¡± His mental laughter echoed in her mind as Rain rushed across the lobby carrying a satchel of her potions. She grabbed Milly¡¯s arm. ¡°Milly, we need to go!¡± Milly wrenched her gaze away from Stone and found Rain¡¯s desperate eyes. Milly let her flames fade, and she and Rain dashed out of the lobby and onto the beach before the crowd could recover. 10¡­ 9¡­ 8¡­ ¡°Calista!¡± Rain shouted as they emerged from the lobby. ¡°Milly needs help.¡± Milly like she was in shock, anger mixed with fear as she tried to process everything that had just happened. The Freelancers were spread out across the beach in ten groups of six, weapons at the ready and talking anxiously. Calista had the groups arranged in a diamond pattern and had just finished positioning the final group. When Calista heard Rain¡¯s cry, she dashed across the sand as fast as she could. 7¡­ 6¡­ 5¡­ ¡°They¡­they tried to arrest her, Calista,¡± stuttered Rain. ¡°Stone and Brass. They turned the crowd on her. On all the Freelancers.¡± Milly could hear Stone¡¯s fading laughter in her head, weakening as she moved further away. ¡°They are not going to help, Calista,¡± Milly said, shaking her head to dislodge the final echoes of Stone¡¯s laughter, ¡°And we are out of time.¡± 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ ¡°You¡¯ll be safe, Milly,¡± assured Calista, her voice shaking with worry and anger. ¡°I promise. You too Rain. I will not let anything happen to you.¡± ¡°Calista, he¡¯s after you too¡­¡± Milly replied softly, but Calista had already turned towards the anxious Freelancers. ¡°Freelancers!¡± Calista shouted. ¡°Be ready for anything.¡± 1¡­ 0¡­ A single, deep tone sounded in the sky above, and a large screen appeared above the Castle of Glass.
The First Event has started Scenario: Siege Victory Conditions: Survive 30 minute or defeat all enemies
¡°Siege?¡± Calista asked, until she saw dozens of arrows flying towards them from the edge of the jungle. ¡°Freelancers! In the sky! Look out!¡± But it was too late. Milly watched in horror as the arrows fell on the Freelancer formations, screams of pain and panic erupting around them. Milly watched Freelancers fall to the sand, arrows piercing their bodies and staining the sand beneath in blood. The healers rushed to the sides of the wounded and dying, but Milly could see they would not be powerful enough to help them all. Milly sprinted forward, palms aglow with blue healing light. Calista ran at her side, her light shield active and pointed towards the sky for protection. Rain was on their heels, fumbling through her satchel of potions. ¡°Milly, over here! I need help!¡± shouted Ying, one of their healers. Ying was crouched over Billy, Elmer¡¯s second-in-command, an arrow embedded in his stomach. Milly knelt at Billy¡¯s side, wrenching the arrow out of Billy¡¯s stomach and flooding the wound with her healing energy. ¡°Again, Billy?¡± Milly complained, trying to sound calm, ¡°That is the same place the boar got you on the second day. I swear, if I need to heal you a third time, I am going to start charging you for it.¡± ¡°You just tell me the price, Milly,¡± Billy said weakly. ¡°and I will gladly pay it. Though I prefer Ying¡¯s bedside manner to yours.¡± ¡°Yah, well, I¡¯m a witch, Billy, not a nurse. I don¡¯t do bedside manner.¡± ¡°Second volley incoming!¡± Calista shouted, dragging Rain beneath her shield and holding it over all of them. Three arrows collided against Calista¡¯s shield, each one releasing a sickening snap as they struck. Milly shut her eyes in fear, but Calista¡¯s shield held, the arrows falling to the side with broken shafts. ¡°Can you take it from here, Ying?¡± Milly asked, Billy¡¯s wound stabilized, though still in rough shape. ¡°I need to help the others.¡± Ying nodded and placed her glowing hands where Milly¡¯s had been. ¡°Calista, we cannot stay out in the open,¡± Rain said. ¡°We are sitting ducks. We need to find cover.¡± Calista nodded and bellowed as loud as she could, ¡°Grab the wounded. Get inside the lobby. Get inside! Stay together!¡± The Freelancers started to move, and Milly saw over two dozen injured and dying being dragged frantically across the sand. Elmer dashed between them, trying to keep control of their shredded formations. Ying lifted Billy across her shoulders and joined the others. ¡°Billy, you watch those hands. I do not care if you are injured. If you cop a feel, I am dropping you.¡± ¡°You did not seem to mind last night,¡± Billy answered weakly, earning himself a slap from Ying. Calista dashed across the sand, Milly and Rain close behind. They were faster than the others, stronger than the others, and arrived at the lobby doors first. Calista reached for the door and pulled. The door did not budge. Stone had locked it from the inside. ¡°Fuck,¡± spat Calista, struggling desperately to open the door with her enhanced strength. It would not move. There was a glowing red barrier around the frame and glass, and Milly could see two of the Bodyguards, faces bloody from their encounter with Milly, using barrier magic to seal the door shut. Milly could see Stone inside the lobby, preaching to the gathered crowd. ¡°The Freelancers have brought this upon themselves! And the Witch and the Huntress have brought this peril upon all of you! But I will protect you. I have sealed the lobby, to keep at bay whatever may come. Stay inside, stay safe! Let those who would put you at risk find well-earned punishment outside these glass walls.¡± ¡°Stone!¡± Calista shouted frantically. ¡°Open the fucking door! There are people dying out here!¡± Stone heard Calista¡¯s shout, but he ignored it. Inside, the crowd has started to anxiously disperse, heading to the elevators or climbing the stairs. A dozen players tried to escape the lobby to go help the Freelancers, but they were quickly rebuffed by the remainder of the Bodyguards. Stone would let no one out. And he would let no one in. Milly saw the third volley of arrows erupt from the jungle, headed their way. ¡°Calista! More arrows!¡± shouted Milly. ¡°Shit! Everyone, get against the glass wall. Make yourselves small. Hurry!¡± The Freelancers dragged the wounded against the outside wall and pressed themselves flat against it. Calista moved to the front of their line and expanded her light shield as high as she could, twenty feet above the sand, trying to absorb the brunt of the volley. Arrow after arrow shattered against Calista¡¯s shield, the sound of snapping shafts filling the air like a tree breaking in a hurricane. Milly watched as sweat beaded Calista¡¯s brow and her knees began to shake, trying to keep the shield whole through sheer force of will. Until Calista released a final frustrated whimper, her shield shattering, as she collapsed to the sand. Milly heard the screams of the Freelancers behind her as the final arrows fell upon them, piercing shoulder and chest and neck. Milly knelt and covered her head, praying as she heard the shafts strike in the sand around her. She felt the barrier extended by Redeeming Protection break as an arrow struck her back, her last protection gone. Then she heard Calista¡¯s scream. She opened her eyes to the sight of Calista laying on her back, an arrow buried deep in her chest. ¡°Calista!¡± Milly screamed, her world collapsing around her. And as she scrambled across the sand towards Calista, the ground beneath Milly¡¯s feet began to rumble. Chapter 30 - The Battle of Tower Beach "Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head." Euripides, Greek Poet Rain curled up in the sand, cradling her satchel of potions against her stomach, trying to be as small as possible. She felt the arrows fall around her, wincing in pain as one ripped through the edge of her apron and carved a shallow cut across her calf. As the final arrow fell, she heard Calista and Milly¡¯s frantic screams. She lifted her head in time to see Milly scramble clumsily across the sand and crouch over Calista. Healing light billowed around Milly in an uncontrolled torrent as dread fueled her power. The edge of Milly¡¯s light reached Rain¡¯s calf, and a few moments later the cut was gone, leaving behind only a tiny, tender inflammation. ¡°Hang on Calista. Just hang on¡­. just hang on, damn you!¡± Milly shouted through tears, trying to grab the arrow embedded in Calista¡¯s chest. But her hands were trembling so much that she could not get a grip. ¡°Calista, I can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Milly, it¡¯s¡­ let me¡­ get this¡­¡± Calista wheezed, struggling to breathe. The arrow had pierced her lung. Calista¡¯s hands wrapped around the shaft and, before Milly could stop her, she yanked the arrow out herself. ¡°Fuck!¡± Calista tried to scream, though it came as a mere whimper. She coughed, blood erupting from her mouth. Droplets landed on Milly¡¯s cheeks, and Calista¡¯s eyes rolled back in her head as she collapsed, overwhelmed by the pain. Milly pressed her hands against Calista¡¯s cruel wound. Her elevated magical power, further enhanced by Salem¡¯s Fury, let her feel every torn organ, every broken rib, and every bit of split skin and muscle in her mind. She also felt a fraction of Calista¡¯s pain, a backlash from sensing her injuries, and Milly felt like she wanted to throw up. But she held it down. The healing light around Milly condensed into bright, precise pinpoints at the tips of her fingers. She ran her fingers across Calista¡¯s bloody wound, feeling for the life-threatening wounds. She targeted severed blood vessels, snapped ribs, and torn muscles with incredible precision. Milly¡¯s hands were soon caked in Calista¡¯s blood as she felt her way along Calista¡¯s chest. ¡°You need to stop doing this to me, Calista,¡± Milly cried desperately. ¡°I can¡¯t lose you.¡± Rain wanted to rush over and comfort her. But Elmer¡¯s shout dashed any hope of that. ¡°Freelancers! Stay together. We have incoming!¡± Elmer shouted, voice betraying his terror. ¡°Oh god.¡± Rain followed Elmer¡¯s gaze towards the jungle, the ground rumbling beneath them. And her heart fell. An army of green and brown goblins erupted from the jungle, running at full speed across the sand towards the disheveled Freelances. They held clubs and spears and were clad in rough hides and bones. Saliva dripped from their teeth as they shrieked and hollered with excitement, sensing a slaughter. ¡°There must be over two hundred of them,¡± whispered Rain, and then she saw what was behind them. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± The last goblin straggler to leave the jungle did not make it far. A giant club smashed into its body, sending it flying across the terrain and breaking it against a jungle trunk. Three ogres strolled out of the jungle, each identical to the one Milly had killed on her first day, as if the creatures had been duplicated for this battle. Rain scrambled to her feet, leaving Milly behind to heal Calista. She started digging through her satchel as she rushed over to Elmer, her mind racing. ¡°Everyone, get into a semi-circle, backs to the tower wall,¡± Elmer ordered, watching the Freelancers scramble, ¡°Surround the wounded and the healers. Melee up front, spears behind short-range weapons as we practiced. Naomi, Aaron, Mohammad, fire your bows, for fuck sakes. What the hell are you waiting for, an invitation?¡± The three archers looked shocked, then quickly raised their bows and started firing into the oncoming goblins. Rain watched a few goblins fall dead to the ground, but it barely put a small dent in their numbers. ¡°Rain, this isn¡¯t good,¡± Elmer hissed, watching the Freelancers stumble into place, driven by desperation more than bravery. There were only about forty of them left, half that number again wounded and dying behind them, facing a horde five times larger and far more vicious. Rain watched one woman shaking so hard her spear rattled out of her hand and dropped into the sand. ¡°They are going to overwhelm us. If we get out of this, I¡¯m going to fucking kill Stone.¡± Rain pulled two bottles from her satchel. The first was bottled darkness. The second glowed with swirling crimson and gold. The horde goblin horde was growing close, the ogres not far behind. ¡°Please tell me that is a bottled miracle,¡± Elmer asked, holding his giant rusted axe out as the goblins closed within thirty paces.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Just a little bit of chaos,¡± Rain answered. She gripped the bottled darkness tightly and hurled it into the middle of the goblin horde. The bottle smashed against the chest of an oncoming goblin, knocking it to the ground as the darkness billowed out in all directions, covering the goblins in thick night. Their shouts of slaughter were transformed into howls of surprise, and Rain and Elmer could hear confusion spread in their ranks. ¡°Archers, fire into that darkness!¡± Elmer shouted, and three arrows flew. Rain did not know if they struck home, but a moment later the sound of goblin weapons colliding with each other erupted from within the darkness. It had confused them enough to buy them some time. But not much. The first wave of goblins escaped the edge of the darkness. It was time for Rain¡¯s trump card. She lifted the crimson and gold bottle in her hand. ¡°I really hope I got this recipe right. Lugh Samild¨¤nach, this had better deliver as the recipe promised,¡± she whispered, then hurled the bottle forward at the ongoing goblins. She did not watch it land. She grabbed Elmer by his torn shirt and spun them so their backs were to the advancing goblins. The bottle struck another goblin, and the resulting explosion blew Elmer and Rain off their feet. They landed hard on their backs, sand and tiny stones creating clouds in the air. Rain sat up, her ornamental dagger clutched in her hand, ready to defend herself. Only to have a severed goblin head, the back of its skull blown away, land at her feet. Fragments of dozens of goblins rolled across the beach in every direction and there was a small crater at the epicenter of the explosion. A few had survived, limbs blown off and crawling along the sand in desperation. Rain felt a moment of guilt, but she had no time to dwell on it. It bought them only a few seconds¡¯ more reprieve. Goblins streamed out of the darkness, stampeding over the remains of their fallen comrades. There were still so many. Rain¡¯s explosion had only put a dent in their numbers. Rain held up another bottle of crimson and gold explosive. ¡°I only have one more, Elmer. And we still have the ogres¡­¡± ¡°Throw it Rain,¡± exclaimed Elmer, then turned to the Freelancers, huddled in a tight semi-circle. ¡°Everyone, be brave. Fight smart. If we break our line, we die. Fight like Spartans!¡± Elmer turned back to the goblins, his axe clutched in his white knuckled hands. He stepped backwards, joining the centre of formation. ¡°After all, it¡¯s just a bunch of goblins, right?¡± he murmured to Rain, eyes filled with fear. Rain held her dagger at her side, stepping in beside him. ¡°You are a good leader, Elmer.¡± ¡°Yah, well, I watch a lot of movies.¡± Rain hurled the bottle as the first line of goblins collided with their formation. The resulting explosion took out another swath of oncoming goblins, as the weapons of the forty remaining Freelancers collided with the first wave of goblin club and spear. The Freelancer¡¯s shouts of fear and desperation merged with the guttural growls of the goblins. They were outnumbered four to one. Rain¡¯s dagger flashed as the first goblin struck her position. Her dagger twirled in her palm, deflecting the goblin¡¯s clumsy blow into the sand and slashing across its throat a heartbeat later. The Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach carved through its flesh and bone as if it were butter, its unnatural sharpness and her enhanced strength hardly feeling any resistance at all. The shocked goblin dropped the club, hands moving desperately to its throat. Rain kicked out, sending the goblin backwards into the one behind it, leaving it to bleed out on the sand. It was immediately replaced, another goblin stepping over the first¡¯s body without concern. The line of goblins was four rows deep, each pushing forward frantically, eager to fill the space. Rain dispatched this one with a flick of her wrist, severing four of the goblin¡¯s fingers mid-swing so it could not longer hold its weapon, then thrusting her dagger quickly into its eye. The goblin shuttered and was dead before it hit the ground. Another two goblins fell to Rain in short succession, the Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach and her dagger specialization talent a lethal combination in close quarters combat. As the fourth goblin fell, Rain snapped her fingers to channel her new fire magic, enveloping her off-hand in dull red flames. She set the dying goblin¡¯s hide armor and body hair aflame, then pushed hard to send it backward into the goblin ranks. The goblins scattered in fear as they saw the burning flesh, and Rain suddenly had a moment of reprieve. ¡°We can do this Elmer!¡± Rain shouted, glancing to her side. And her heart dropped. Elmer was struggling to wield his axe in such close quarters. His arms were bloody from numerous wounds he had suffered. The bodies of three goblin lay at his feet, but the fourth was gaining an upper hand on him until the Freelancer behind him thrust a spear forward through the goblin¡¯s eye. All down the line, Freelancers were covered in blood and gore. They did not have the advantages Rain had. Their levels were lower. They had fewer talents, and worse equipment. Many had barely grown since day one, too afraid to leave the beach. ¡°Elmer, hang in there. We¡­¡± Rain watched in horror as a large, skull-decorated goblin thrust its spear viciously through the throat of the Freelancer fighting beside Elmer. Veronica. She liked Rain¡¯s tea first thing in the morning. She was a single mother with two kids at home, working a dead-end job to make enough to keep them in school. She had a heart condition, and Rain had spent an afternoon designing a replacement for her mediation when she had run out. And Rain watched as her body was pulled forward by the skull-decorated goblin as it wrenched his spear out of her throat. Her body collapsed on top of the pile of goblin corpses, her final contribution to the Contest. Elmer¡¯s axe and Rain¡¯s angry blast of fire caught the skull-decorated goblin at the same time, sending its head flying backwards and its body launched into another pack of enemies. Rain felt tears flowing down her cheeks, and she wiped them away stiffly with the back of her hand before turning back towards the enemy, dagger ready and hands aflame. Another four fell to Rain¡¯s dagger and two to her flames as she poured her anger and sorrow into the fight. But it was not enough. For every four goblins they killed, a Freelancer fell. Everyone was forced backward two steps to close the line and prevent the goblins from breaking through to the wounded. Rain¡¯s eyes glanced behind the thinned goblin horde as she beheaded another goblin and shoved its body onto the growing pile at her feet. The three monstrous ogres strolled out of the cloud of darkness, slowly walking towards the goblin lines. They stepped over goblin corpses, licking their lips at the sight before them. "Well... shit..." Chapter 31 - The Battle of Tower Beach II "We were a bonded group of girls, and it was us against the world and us against the odds." Charlotte Caffey, American Musician If the ogres hit their defensive line, it would be over. They could smash through their ranks with a single swing. Rain braced herself, ready to break through the goblin lines to create a distraction. She could not defeat three ogres, but maybe she could slow them down. Then she heard Elmer¡¯s pained scream next to her. She looked over and saw a massive goblin standing even taller than Elmer, its spear impaled through Elmer¡¯s shoulder. His axe had fallen to the ground, and Elmer gripped the goblin¡¯s spear with his hands, staring the goblin in the eyes as he bled. ¡°I¡¯ll take you down with me, mother fucker!¡± Elmer shouted, spitting into the goblin¡¯s eye. The goblin gave a wide, angry grin, and leaned forward to bite through Elmer¡¯s neck. Elmer smirked. ¡°I hope you choke on me.¡± ¡°Elmer!¡± Rain shouted desperately, trying to fight her way to him through the two goblins that stood between them. She was not going to make it. The Spear of Pinga flew from behind their ranks, striking the massive goblin through its eye and out the other side, its skull exploding as the momentum took it off its feet. The driftwood spear carried forward, impaling another two goblins on its shaft before coming to a halt. Elmer cried out in pain as the spear was wrenched from his shoulder and he began to fall, only to be caught by Calista. Rain¡¯s heart leapt. Calista¡¯s chest was covered in blood and she was unsteady on her feet, but she had a vengeful fire in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are done already, Elmer,¡± Calista poked. ¡°I know you are tougher than that.¡± ¡°Tougher than you,¡± Elmer grunted through the pain. ¡°You can¡¯t even take a tiny little arrow. It took a whole spear to slow me down. Where is the witch?¡± A line of dark red flame erupted between goblin and Freelancers along their line, weak heat that licked bare goblin feet and distract them long enough for the swords and spears of the Freelancers to carve through them and cause the next goblin line to hesitate. Rain took the chance to slice through the necks of both goblins she was facing. Milly stood behind Calista, her dress caked in Calista¡¯s blood, her eyes set with deep exhaustion. She wanted to run over and hug her friends. She wanted to cry in their arms. But they had no time. ¡°Calista! Milly! The ogres!¡± she called, pointing with her dagger to the three approaching monstrosities. Calista started to move forward, but Milly reached up and grabbed her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare get hurt again,¡± Milly whispered in Calista¡¯s ear. ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± Calista looked into her concerned eyes, then nodded. ¡°You too, Milly. Let¡¯s make it quick. One each?¡± Milly and Rain nodded, and the trio sprang into action, Milly¡¯s flames carving a path through the goblins between their line and the ogres. ¡°Elmer, hold the line,¡± shouted Rain as they broke through and dashed towards the ogres. ¡°Right,¡± whispered Elmer, reaching over and grabbing a small goblin club on the ground with his uninjured arm. He slowly got to his feet, grateful he had decided to increase his toughness so much. Elmer shouted to the Freelancers as the flames died, ¡°Freelancers! Let¡¯s do this!¡± When the last flame went out, the goblins crashed forward once again, their final line of forces meeting the stubborn Freelancers. *** Rain carved through three more goblins as she dashed towards the ogre in the middle. It gave her a broad and stupid smile as she approached, eager to begin. It dragged its giant club lazily in the sand beside it, leaving a trail back to the darkness. As she ran forward, Rain withdrew the final bottle from her satchel, a wide-brimmed narrow flask with a sickly green liquid and a black cork, marked with an X in red. She wiped her dagger clean on her apron before very carefully removing the cork and dipping her dagger inside. She held it there for a few footsteps until the imbedded pearl at the end of its hilt changed from milky white to sicky green. She gently replaced the cork on the bottle, now half empty, and stashed it back in her satchel. She did not need the potion for the goblins. It would have been overkill. It was meant for something bigger. She ran straight for the ogre but adjusted her speed, suddenly sprinting forward and catching the ogre off guard. It lifted its giant club to swing, but Rain was already sliding between its legs before its club left the ground, dagger slicing through thick skin and into tendons. She rose back to her feet behind the ogre, dagger jabbing forward quickly into its lower back. With each jab, the sickly green pearl slowly faded back to milky white. It would be a monumental task to take down a massive ogre with a simple dagger.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! But the Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach was no simple dagger. And Rain Desjarlais was no simple alchemist. The ogre did not stand a chance. Rain¡¯s poison spread quickly through the ogre¡¯s body, sickly green veins spreading with every prick of the dagger. Its blood vessels shattered. Pustules formed beneath its skin and ruptured. It tried to roar in pain, but only succeeded in expelling copious amounts of black fluid from its mouth onto the sand below. Rain kept dancing behind its back, dagger stabbing until every last speck of sickly green had disappeared from the pearl. The ogre spun around, trying to reach her, but Rain was too fast. She stayed behind it, until the poison reached the monster¡¯s heart and tore it apart from the inside. The ogre collapsed face first into the sand, shaking the ground as it landed, the poison still ripping its way through organ after organ. ¡°I may have made this first batch a little too strong,¡± concluded Rain, making a mental note to dilute down the next batch, and to find herself a thick pair of gloves. *** Calista stumbled forward in the sand, yanking the Spear of Pinga out of the two goblin corpses as she passed. She was not well, though she was trying to hide it. Milly had been able to heal the worst of her injury. The arrow had pierced lung, and Calista had damaged her heart when she wrenched the arrow out of her chest. That she was still alive was a testament to the magical prowess that grew more powerful within Milly every day. Two near-death experiences in two days, and Milly was her savior for each. It put her life in perspective. Milly was special to her, and Calista found herself smiling when she was simply in her presence. ¡°Rain is right. I cannot keep denying this. I cannot keep denying myself. When this is all over, I need to tell her,¡± Calista promised herself. ¡°I need to tell her how I feel.¡± The ogre roared, saliva flying out of its mouth in a torrent of foul-smelling droplets. It lifted its club, pounding its chest to challenge Calista. ¡°But first, there is this asshole to deal with,¡± Calista said. ¡°I am not strong enough yet to fight it head on. Time to see what Pinga¡¯s spear can really do.¡± The ogre charged forward, massive footsteps shaking the ground. Calista lifted the spear up to her shoulder and took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s see what a twenty strength can do.¡± She hurled the driftwood spear forward with all her strength, wincing in the pain with the effort. The spear connected with the ogre in the same place Calista had been struck by the arrow. Only her spear pierced straight through the ogre¡¯s thick hide, erupting out the other side and carrying forward until it impaled itself into the middle of a palm tree twenty paces away with a resounding crack. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Calista exclaimed as the ogre halted in its tracks, staring down in disbelief at the hole the spear had carved through its chest. ¡°Now, for its talent,¡± Calista said, raising her palm to the sky and focusing on the spear. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this works.¡± She felt the talent granted by the spear activate, an invisible silver thread connecting her palm to the Spear of Pinga. It felt as if she could reach out and touch it. ¡°Spear Recall.¡± The driftwood spear began to move, jarring itself out of the tree. Coconuts rained down on the ground below as the tree shook with its effort. Once it was free, the spear turned its point towards its owner and shot back in a straight line, traveling at the same speed it was thrown. The ogre stood between the spear and Calista. The spear did not slow down, and it pierced through the ogre¡¯s stomach as it traveled towards Calista. The spear finished its flight and rested gently into Calista¡¯s outstretched palm as the ogre¡¯s vile insides spilled onto the sand. The spear was covered in ogre blood and bile, and Calista struggled to focus as she dodged the droplets of ogre insides that fell around her. ¡°Oh, that is so gross,¡± complained Calista. She shook the spear off in the sand to get rid of the worst of it, then hoisted it back up. ¡°One last time,¡± she said, throwing hard. The Spear of Pinga struck the creature in the eye, imbedding itself deep into its skull. The ogre collapsed backwards with the impact, dead in the sand. ¡°I really wish we had showers here,¡± Calista sighed. *** Milly steadily approached her ogre, exhaustion threatening to overcome her. Salem¡¯s Fury was still active, and she could feel the wellspring of power still flowing within her, but each time she tapped into it she grew more exhausted. And more angry. She was borrowing power from an unknown source, and she did not know what would happen if she drew too much. But her anger drowned out any worry within her. She had been forced to listen to the sounds of dying Freelancers as she had kept Calista alive, unable to help them for fear Calista would be the cost of doing so. A sacrifice Milly would never make. ¡°Damn those goblins,¡± spat Milly, marching towards the ogre, her anger growing. ¡°Damn the Gods. Damn Jacob Stone. Damn Judy Brass. Damn every single, fucking one of them.¡± Flames erupted from her palms, stretching high above her. Her eyes glowed with violet fire as anger consumed her. Her gaze burrowed into the ogre¡¯s eyes, a mirror clone of the one that had nearly killed her and Calista on that first day. And her flames grew hotter. ¡°You attack my friends? The people I care about? I will not let you have them. I will not let them be sacrificed to your fucking game.¡± She felt no fear. Her anger had consumed her fear. But the ogre could not say the same. The woman clouded in flames and with piercing violet eyes frightened it to its core. The ogre turned and ran. ¡°Oh no, you fucking don¡¯t!¡± Milly shouted, reaching out with her earth magic and causing the sand around its feet to solidify. It fell forward as its feet were planted in place, but Milly used her telekinesis to keep it on its feet. She closed the distance as it struggled to rip its feet from the earth. It looked backed at Milly, utter fear in its eyes. Milly unleased her flames, and the ogre¡¯s dying screams struck fear into the heart of every remaining goblin. *** Elmer watched The Huntress, The Alchemist, and The Witch of the Castle of Glass take down the three ogres, utterly awestruck at their power. A sentiment shared by every one of the remaining Freelancers. ¡°Come on!¡± he shouted, bashing a goblin over the head with its own club. ¡°They have cleared us the path. Let¡¯s end this!¡± The Freelancers surged forward as the ogre¡¯s dying screams filled the air. And one by one, the remaining goblins were struck down, until at least the final one took its last breath, lying on the sands of Tower Beach. A victory cheer rose into the air from the survivors. A cheer that every person cowering in the Tower, watching from on high from behind glass walls, could hear. A victory that had come at a heavy price.
Congratulations Players! Event Complete Win condition: Defeat All Enemies Rewards: Participating players receive
  • Experience based on kills
  • +1 bonus level
  • 500 gold each
  • 1 special custom item
Event timer reset to 168 hours
Chapter 32 - A New Home "Where thou art, that is home." Emily Dickinson Milly positioned herself in front of the entrance to the lobby, its glass doors still sealed by the magics of the CEOs¡¯ six Bodyguards. Rain, Calista and Elmer stood a few paces behind her. The cries of pain and sorrow from the Freelancers drove them forward. They needed a place of safety, and there was only one such place in this world. She watched through the glass as Jacob Stone and Judy Brass retreated to the elevators, granting the surviving Freelancers one final glance before the doors closed. There was no regret on their faces. Only cold calculation. They had left their Bodyguards behind to keep the Freelancers out. Milly watched as a bead of sweat dripped off of Joseph¡¯s nose and struck the glass floor below. The Chief Bodyguard stood perfectly still, focused on joining his magic together with others to reinforce the barricade. Milly stared into Joseph¡¯s eyes and pointed her palms towards the barrier. ¡°You can do it, Milly!¡± encouraged Calista. ¡°I believe in you.¡± ¡°Me too, Milly,¡± added Rain. ¡°You are the strongest person I know.¡± ¡°Get it done, witch,¡± continued Elmer. ¡°We need to get these people to safety.¡± Milly took a deep breath and began. A wave of flame erupted from her palms, crashing against the Bodyguards¡¯ barrier. Milly¡¯s bright orange flames met their red barrier in an exquisite collision of opposing magics. The heat from the assault rolled across the beach, and the Rain, Calista, and Elmer had to quicky retreat a dozen paces behind them keep from getting singed. The metal of the lobby¡¯s frame began to expand in the heat, weakening the glass. The red barrier flickered, but it held firm, resisting Milly¡¯s onslaught. Joseph gave Milly a triumphant grin. That was a mistake. Milly dug deep, gathering up every remaining ounce of Salem¡¯s Fury¡¯s power within her. The power to fight against those who would harm others. Those who would harm the people she loved. She let the anger in. How many of the Freelancers would still be alive if it had not been for these six Bodyguards? If it had not been for Jacob Stone and Judy Brass? How many had died for their ambitions? For the briefest of instances, Milly¡¯s bright orange flames turned to pale violent, and the resulting heat scorched even the sand beneath her. It cascaded over the lobby roof. Frame creaked and glass cracked, and metal began to melt under the intense heat. Joseph¡¯s eyes grew wide in panic, and the barrier of the bodyguards shattered against Milly¡¯s fury. As their barrier fell, Milly¡¯s flames collided with the unprotected glass. The entranceway shattered in an explosion of hot glass and metal that sprayed into the lobby. The six Bodyguards were thrown violently backwards across the lobby, landing hard. The blast echoed across the terrains and to every corner of the Castle of Glass, and to every player that cowered within. Thick cracks appeared in every piece of glass within thirty feet of the entrance, ceiling panes falling and shattering against the lobby floor. Salem¡¯s Fury finally disappeared from Milly¡¯s grasp, its power exhausted and dormant once more. Milly collapsed to her knees from immense exhaustion, feeling hollowed out inside. Calista dashed to her side and knelt beside Milly, draping her arm protectively around her shoulder. Elmer pressed forward into the lobby, and Rain and every Freelancer capable of standing rushed inside behind him, carrying wounded on their backs. Elmer ran until he reached Joseph, who was crawling towards the elevators in desperation, his leg twisted at an unnatural angle. ¡°Elmer, buddy, you know me,¡± Joseph pleaded as he crawled forward. ¡°We¡¯ve been on projects together. We sat in the same meetings. This is not what you think it is.¡± Elmer stalked forward, a vicious scowl on his face. Blood still flowed down the injured arm that hung uselessly at his side, tiny droplets of blood leaving a trail on the glass below. He reached for Joseph. ¡°We were just following orders,¡± Joseph shrieked desperately as Elmer grabbed him by the collar. ¡°We needed to keep everyone in the Tower safe. For thirty minutes. If you had not been so stubborn and just did what the CEOs ordered, you would all be safe too. You¡­¡± Elmer¡¯s uninjured fist collided with Joseph¡¯s mouth, and whatever he was about to say next was lost in a gurgle of broken teeth. Elmer struck again and again, until Joseph¡¯s face was an unrecognizable mass. Elmer wound up again, ready to finish it, until Rain put a soft hand on Elmer¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Elmer,¡± Rain said softly, trying to calm him. ¡°They will hear your message louder if you do not go all the way.¡± Elmer looked into Joseph¡¯s swollen, terrified eyes, desperately wanting to end him. For a moment Rain thought he would, but then Elmer released his collar and Joseph collapsed to the floor. Joseph coughed, blood and loose teeth spattering on the floor beside him. ¡°You are lucky that Rain is here, Joseph. You may not be so lucky the next time we cross paths. Remember that,¡± Elmer said coldly. He turned towards the other five bodyguards, who were standing in stunned, terrified silence. ¡°Give that message to Stone and Brass,¡± Elmer announced, pointing down at the beaten man, ¡°and tell this to all the cowards in Tower One. You betrayed your co-workers today. You bowed down to those who would murder us for personal gain. You left us to die. We will not forget that.¡± Elmer paused for emphasis. ¡°And remember this. Despite all odds, we triumphed. Do not forget that we are stronger than you. Remember that the next time Stone and Brass tell you to betray us.¡± Elmer finished and walked away from Joseph¡¯s unconscious body. The other five bodyguards stumbled forward, grabbed his body, and were gone the moment an elevator arrived. ¡°Nice speech,¡± Calista said, supporting Milly as they both limped forward across the lobby. ¡°Could have used more fire and brimstone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hoping it scares the cowards enough to keep them hiding in Tower One for a few hours,¡± Elmer said. watching the injured carried in from the beach. ¡°There are so few of us left who can fight. I don¡¯t think we have the strength to stop Stone and Brass if they arrived to finish us off. We need to move quickly.¡± Calista nodded in agreement. ¡°We need more healers. Ying and Phillis are exhausted, and Milly¡¯s tapped out. Rain and I are no better. But we all got a bonus level as a reward for completing the event. Tell anyone who received a talent point from it to take Healer¡¯s Touch. We need as many healers as we can get.¡± ¡°I will focus on getting that done,¡± Elmer said, ¡°You three find us somewhere safe to stay.¡± Elmer dashed over to the Freelancers, bellowing orders. ¡°He¡¯s right. We cannot stay in the lobby,¡± Rain said to Calista and Milly. ¡°Stone and Brass will be down here the moment they realize that we have so few players who can fight. They have over six hundred people in Tower One. They would overwhelm us in an instant.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Well, it is not safe outside the Tower. We¡¯d be sitting ducks for the next event. So there is only one real option. Two, three or four?¡± Calista asked. Milly lifted her head, gazing over at the Tutoria Emporia, and the abandoned glass tower that rose above it. ¡°Tower Three,¡± Milly said weakly. * * * Milly leaned against the glass, gazing out at the open prairie and jungle canopy as Calista and Rain explored the penthouse floor. Except for the two washrooms, a storage closet, a massive executive office suite, and a surprisingly large kitchen, the top floor of Tower Three was a wide-open space, devoid of offices, cubicles, and furniture, except for six tattered chairs and two stained folding tables from the 1990s that the final occupants of Tower Three had left behind years ago. A crack across the inner panel of glass obscured Milly¡¯s view out of the tower. She had circled the floor and found such cracks in twenty-seven of the forty windows, though only one was significant enough to let water through. The thin carpet, a boring grey and black pattern that had ample coffee stains across its surface, had not been cleaned in more than a decade, giving the floor a strong musty scent. It was desolate, but functional. It reminded Milly of her rundown apartment. It reminded her of home. ¡°Ah, here it is!¡± Rain announced with triumph, reaching into the storage closet and lifting the latch of the electrical panel. The lights on the floor flickered to life. ¡°Great Rain,¡± Calista wheezed, lowering herself to the floor to catch her breath. ¡°Now we have a better view of the stains.¡± ¡°Oh, quiet you,¡± Rain teased from the storage closet, flicking on each breaker. ¡°It is perfect. We can see everything from up here. We can even get to the roof though the balcony off the executive suite.¡± Milly knelt beside Rain, listening to her ragged breath. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± she whispered with concern. ¡°I will be alright,¡± Calista whispered back. ¡°It just hurts.¡± Milly¡¯s hands flashed blue, ¡°A tiny bit of my magic has come back. I could¡­¡± Calista held Milly¡¯s hand gently on her lap. ¡°Save it, Milly. Someone downstairs needs it more than I do.¡± Milly¡¯s healing glow faded, but Calista did not release Milly¡¯s hand. She felt herself blushing, looking down at Calista¡¯s lap. ¡°Milly,¡± Calista said softly, ¡°I need to¡­¡± ¡°I think the main breaker for the elevators is in the maintenance room on the roof. Should we head out and¡­oh,¡± Rain said, closing the closet with a sharp click and turning towards Milly and Calista. Milly quickly stood, pulling her hands away from Calista¡¯s. ¡°Let¡­let¡¯s go turn it on then. There are people waiting in the lobby.¡± Milly stood and marched quickly towards the executive suite, trying to hide her blush. Rain grimaced and silently mouthed ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡± to the crestfallen Calista as Milly opened the creaky door to the roof and stepped outside. The door closed behind Milly with a sharp click. She sighed as she felt the heat in her cheeks. ¡°Why did I wrench my hands away like that?¡± she scolded herself. ¡°Stupid, stupid, stupid.¡± The strong prairie wind blew across the roof, ruffling through Milly¡¯s hair and across her blood-soaked gown. The sun was low in the sky to the west, the last of the prairie heat fading from the air and the coolness of night taking over. It felt eerily quiet. The world lay stretched out before her and far beyond the horizon. Someday, she might be able to enjoy the view. But not today. Milly could see the funeral pyre below them, its embers still smoldering from yesterday¡¯s fire. How many Freelancers would be added to it from today? During the battle, Milly had kept her sorrow at bay through intense anger and sheer adrenaline. Both had faded now, and the sight of the pyre far below broke the last of her emotional defenses. She leaned back against the tower wall and let herself slide down until she was clutching her knees to her chest, and she allowed her silent tears to fall. The door opened and Calista and Rain stepped onto the rooftop. ¡°Milly did you find¡­¡± Calista stopped, seeing Milly with her head buried in her knees. ¡°Milly,¡± Calista whispered, kneeling beside her. Calista did not say anything. She did not tell Milly things would work out. That everyone would be safe. She simply wrapped her arms around Milly and pulled her close. She felt her own tears flow. Rain sat next to them, and Milly threw an arm around her, dragging her into the hug. They held each other for a while, letting the sorrow in, if only for a moment. A flock of sparrows settled onto the rooftop of the maintenance shed, settling into their nests for the night. ¡°We¡­we should get going,¡± Milly whispered, wiping away her salty tears, ¡°It is not over yet. There are still people who need us.¡± They walked over to the maintenance shed, and soon the whirl of the elevator could be heard within Tower Three, ready to deliver the Freelancers to their new home. * * * Milly watched the doors of the elevator close as the last of the injured ascended to the penthouse. An uncomfortable silence settled over the lobby, and Milly felt her mind begin to wander. Of the sixty Freelancers who had fought on the beach, only five ¨C the healers Ying and Phillis and the archers Naomi, Aaron, and Mohammad - had escaped injury. Everyone else was in rough shape. Elmer¡¯s shoulder would take days to recover. The tailor, Harriot, had lost a hand when the wild swing of a goblin spear severed it at the wrist. Billy still had trouble sitting up despite Ying¡¯s efforts, joining the dozen others who had similar wounds from the arrows that had cut through their ranks. Five Freelancers were still in critical condition, a coalition of fifteen new healers struggling to keep them alive. No one knew if they would make it to morning. Twenty-three Freelancers, over a third of their number, had lost their lives on the sands of Tower Beach. Their bodies now lay beside Tower Three in the usual place, awaiting the funeral pyre that would be held once the survivors were healthy enough to attend. It would take them days to recover, even with constant healing, and those who could not make the journey downstairs would watch from the roof. Milly walked around the lobby to keep her thoughts occupied, trying not to think about the lives lost. She did not want to be upstairs. She had used what little magic she had recovered already, and now there was nothing more she could do to help. It made her feel useless. The darkness of the night had started to settle across the world outside the lobby walls, the salty sea air flowing in from the hole Milly had blasted through the beach entrance. Eventually, she grew tired of pacing and collapsed into one of the leather couches, absentmindedly watching the line of Tutorias waiting for the elevator. Diwata, a young Filipino woman who had worked as a marketer at EnergyWave, had discovered that the Emporia had a furniture catalogue, and the Freelancers had pooled their gold to outfit their new home. Dozens of Tutorias, dressed in identical blue and black delivery uniforms, carried wooden tables, leather chairs, bedframes, mattresses, and even a large black refrigerator to the sixteenth floor of Tower Three for delivery. It had been expensive ¨C each bedframe was five hundred gold - but no one was in the mood to sleep on the dirty floor. Milly should have been pleased with the touch of luxury. She had partnered with Rain and Calista to buy a bed of their own that they could share. But all she could think about were the screams on the battlefield, and the crushing panic she had felt when she had seen the arrow in Calista¡¯s chest. She had almost lost her again. And it had shaken her to her core. The cushion beside her moved, and Milly turned to see Calista sitting next to her. ¡°Some day, huh?¡± Calista said, not knowing what to say. ¡°Yah,¡± Milly responded, feeling Calista¡¯s thigh pressed up against hers. It made her heart flutter, cutting through the emptiness she had been feeling. They sat in awkward silence, watching the final rays of sunlight sink beyond the horizon, until Rain walked over with a mischievous grin on her face, her hands behind her back. ¡°What are you up to?¡± Calista said suspiciously. ¡°Hygiene,¡± Rain answered, and swung her arms around to reveal two fluffy white towels. ¡°From the Emporia. Catch.¡± She tossed a towel into each of their laps. ¡°It cost a pretty penny, but it is worth it. You are both filthy, and you will ruin our new bed if you get into it without a bath.¡± Milly looked down at her dress, encrusted with blood and sand. ¡°I guess you are right,¡± she sighed. ¡°I usually am,¡± Rain said confidently, grabbing each of them by the wrist and hauling them to their feet. ¡°Why not head to that gentle ocean bay you found the day you two went exploring. That would be the perfect place.¡± Rain looked at Calista knowingly, and Calista¡¯s eyes grew wide with understanding and a touch of panic. Milly nodded, oblivious to their silent conversation. ¡°Well, it was gorgeous there, and I could use a bath.¡± She squeezed the fluffy towel, and a soft smile made its way through the layers of sorrow and exhaustion. ¡°And a distraction.¡± ¡°Oh, I expect it will be very distracting,¡± Rain agreed, smiling. ¡°You two have fun!¡± Rain started to walk towards Rain on my Parade, pulling her own towel from her inventory. ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t you joining us?¡± Milly asked, as she and Calista started walking towards the beach. ¡°Nope,¡± Rain said bluntly, ¡°I will wash in the shop. It will just be you and Calista. All alone. With no one to bother you.¡± Rain looked back with a twinkle in her eye and gave Calista a wink, then ducked into her shop and closed the door. ¡°She gets stranger every day,¡± Milly whispered to Calista. Calista smiled. ¡°Yes, but she is a wonderful friend. Shall we go, my beautiful witch?¡± she asked, eyes twinkling. Milly smiled back, and they strolled out into the starry night, retracing their steps from their first day together. As they walked, Milly stared up at the night sky. And wondered why she felt so nervous. * * * Chapter 33 - The Confession "Throw you dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country." Anais Nin, American Author Milly eased herself into the warm tropical sea, letting the salty waters strip away her aches and pains. She sighed deeply, dipping her head below its surface and running fingers through her hair¡¯s tangled mess. She could feel the gentle current slowly digging away at the grime that had built up on her skin since arriving in this world. Each speck of dirt and grime that flaked off and floated away on the current made her feel a little bit lighter. She looked over at her gown and spectacles, resting gently on the edge of the stony bathing pool. Calista had spotted the formation, hidden from view behind a rocky outcropping off a small sandy beach. The pool was a perfect circle of stone, carved out at the edge of the water, four feet deep and eight feet across, with just enough current flowing through it to continually refresh the water inside. Milly leaned back, and stared at the cosmos above, the stars reflecting their light off the water and casting their dim glow across the world. Their light joined shimmering bioluminescent corals of blue, yellow, and pink in the waters below, creating a magical atmosphere around her. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. ¡°Damn it,¡± came a frustrated whisper from behind the ledge that sheltered the stony pool from view. Milly suppressed a chuckle. ¡°Are you okay, Calista?¡± Milly called, wondering what the woman was up to. Calista had insisted on using the pool first, emerging wrapped only in her towel with short red hair plastered to her face. Her skin glowed in the moonlight, and Milly had blushed from head to toe, grateful for the darkness as she rushed behind the ledge for her turn. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± answered Calista. ¡°Take your time. It is not ready yet.¡± Calista had been acting strange since they left the tower, an awkward silence living where conversation usually flowed so freely. Milly wanted to attribute it to the aftermath of the tragedy they had just survived, but somehow, she knew it was something more than that. But she trusted Calista and knew Calista would tell her when she was ready. She watched another fragment of dirt float to the top of the pool and get carried out to sea by the current. ¡°Trust,¡± she whispered to the stars, letting her mind wander as the gentle waves lapped at her bare skin. The word felt out of place in her life. Her mother had died when she was three. Her father had abandoned her. She had been shuffled between foster homes and abused by the man she had been told to trust. She had long ago resigned herself to a lonely and forgotten life, where trust was just another luxury she could not afford. Yet she trusted Calista, and that trust shook her to the very core of her being. ¡°I trust Rain,¡± she told herself, running her hand across the surface of the water and watching the ripples collide with the stone shelf. As a kid, she used to lay in bed and fantasize about what it would be like to have a real family. A family that cared for her. A family that loved her. Rain was how she imagined an older sister. A patient guide and sturdy rock as she explored a world of emotional turmoil. Calista was not that. Calista made her feel something she thought buried beneath years of pain and loneliness. A feeling she had long given up on, dead and forgotten. Rain did not make her heart flutter. And Calista did. ¡°Damn it, Milly,¡± she scolded herself, grabbing her gown and thrusting it into the warm waters. ¡°Now is not the time for a journey of self-discovery. Now is not the time to be happy.¡± Her hands grasped and pulled at the gown, channeling her doubts and frustrations into it until she pulled it from the water and saw it sparkling like the stars high above. Milly clutching the gown to her chest, letting her thoughts of Calista drift away on the current. It was just a fantasy, and now was not the time to play make believe. She looked at the Tower a short distance away. It was a time for grief and fear, not for love. She squeezed the water from her gown, laying it flat against the rocks as she climbed out of the pool. The air was cool against her skin, a slight breeze flowing through her long, black hair. She could feel the moonlight as it reflected off her skin pale skin, illuminating the scars across her wrists. The constant, inescapable reminders of the battles she had fought and lost every day of her life. An ugly girl illuminated against a beautiful world.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Who could ever love me?¡± she whispered to herself, lost in her darkening thoughts. She picked up her gown, channeling a tiny fragment of fire into its silk until it was dry, and slipped it on. She slid her spectacles onto her nose and gently set her hat on her head, her weaknesses and imperfections hidden beneath the witch once more. She walked away from the pool, a thick gloom settled inside her. Her familiar armor to protect against the disappointments of the world. ¡°Calista,¡± she sighed, walking around the corner, leaving her hopes and dreams in the pool to be carried away by the current. ¡°I¡¯m finished. Let¡¯s head back to the tower and¡­¡± ¡°Wait, it¡¯s not ready yet,¡± called Calista, as Milly stepped around the corner of the stony ledge that sheltered the pool from view. Calista was standing barefoot in the white sand of the beach, holding a small lighter and trying to ignite the last of six tiny candles that she had placed on top of a large, flat stone. Their flames flickered in the gentle breeze, dancing shadows across the fruits that Calista had carefully arranged in the centre of the stone. She had fashioned a wooden bench from driftwood along one edge of the improvised table, large enough for two to sit and stare across the ocean waters and up at the starry sky. ¡°I¡­I was going to go find some flowers,¡± Calista said, apologetically. ¡°I wanted it to be perfect.¡± ¡°You did this for me?¡± Milly asked softly. Calista finished lighting the final candle. ¡°I made a promise to myself on the beach. A promise I plan to keep.¡± She sat on the bench, facing the ocean, and gave Milly a gentle but nervous smile. Milly sat next to her, their bodies so close that Milly thought she could feel energy arcing through the smallest of spaces between them. Deep inside Milly, a tiny light had sparked to life behind her armor. They stared out at the ocean waves together in silence, listening to the crash of waves against the shore. Milly could sense Calista¡¯s nervousness and saw the quiver in her arms that Calista was trying desperately to hide. This was not the strong and confident Calista. It was Calista stripped of her own armor, laying bare her deepest vulnerabilities. Trying to find the right words to follow through on her promise. ¡°We lost a lot of people today,¡± Calista whispered, her voice filled with unspoken feelings. ¡°Who knows what tomorrow will bring. I do not want to live the remainder of my life filled with regret.¡± Milly could feel Calista¡¯s nervousness, but could see the determination and strength in Calista¡¯s eyes. ¡°Milly, I¡­¡± Calista stammered, staring up at the stars. She was having trouble finding her words. They seemed to slip through her fingers, one by one, lost in the sand below. Finally, Calista took a deep breath, and turned to look into Milly¡¯s eyes, flickering flames merging their shadows cast against the pale sand. ¡°Milly, I like you,¡± she said. ¡°I mean, I like Rain too, just not in that way. I like you like you. I mean, I have feelings for you. I¡­ I¡¯m not saying this right¡­¡± Calista¡¯s words escaped her, tumbling into the air without elegance. Calista blushed, embarrassed, feeling as if the world were crashing down around her, her romantic gesture wasted with each passing second. The waves crashing against the rocks grew louder, mirroring Calista¡¯s growing inner turmoil. Yet with every word that reached Milly¡¯s ear, Milly felt her armor crack. Thick, impenetrable armor perfected over years of loneliness. In another world, in another time, Milly¡¯s mind would have been racing with a thousand doubts and fears, each reinforcing her armor and smothering the light growing within her. Keeping her safe. Keeping her alone. But here, in this world, in this moment, as she stared into Calista¡¯s eyes and listened to her tumbling words, those thousand doubts died in a fraction of an instant. The light within her grew shining brighter than the stars above, and Milly¡¯s carefully constructed armor shattered within her. ¡°¡­and maybe it isn¡¯t the right time. We can just forget this and¡­¡± Milly leaned over, closing the tiny distance between them, and kissed Calista. A gentle, inexperienced kiss that carried more meaning than words could ever express. Electricity flowed between them, and Milly intertwined their fingers as Calista kissed her back. Calista¡¯s clumsy words were carried away in the breeze, and all that remined was the touch of their hands and their soft, clumsy kiss. It was the happiest moment of Milly¡¯s life, and ignited within her a light that no darkness would ever eclipse. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Calista whispered softly when they finally separated, leaving a tingle on Milly¡¯s lips that left her yearning for more. Milly gently squeezed Calista¡¯s hand, and she simply whispered, ¡°Yes.¡± She leaned forward and their lips met again, the light within Milly growing so bright that it made every star in the heavens above jealous. * * * They stayed on that beach until their candles burned low, laughing and stealing giddy kisses until exhaustion of the day overtook them. As Milly reluctantly departed this special place, the place that had ignited her heart, she left the doubts and fears of her past behind to be carried far away on the waves. ¡°What now?¡± Milly asked, resting her head on Calista¡¯s shoulder as they walked back to the tower, fingers interlaced. ¡°We keep moving forward, one day at a time,¡± Calista responded, tilting her head until it touched Milly¡¯s soft black hair, ¡°and we do it together.¡± ¡°Rain will be so surprised,¡± Milly said with a happy grin. Calista smiled at the naivety of woman who made her heart flutter. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell her,¡± Calista laughed, holding Milly close. As they walked towards the tower, Milly felt herself full of hope and excitement for what lay in the days ahead. Because for the first time in her life, she was not alone. Chapter 34 - In Memory of the Fallen "Grief is the price we pay for love." Queen Elizabeth II ¡°Veronica was a single mother with two young girls. She treasured them more than anything.¡± Elmer stood before the funeral pyre. His voice bellowed out across the small crowd gathered, most still nursing battle wounds. A handful watched from the rooftop of Freelancer Tower, those who were too injured or too scared to make the journey to the ground. A few players from Tower One stood on the periphery, paying their respects to departed colleagues. ¡°Veronica would brag about her daughters, Bella and Daphne, to anyone who would listen. She was so proud of them. They did not have much, and Veronica worked three jobs so she could give them a better life. She fought every day to make sure they survived. To make sure they thrived.¡± Elmer let the murmurs fade before he continued. ¡°Veronica was brave. She was one of the first to join the Freelancers. She knew the path back to her children lay in winning this contest. So she started to fight for all of us. In her thirty-four years, she never left the city. Never taken a walk through a forest. Never held a weapon. Yet she took to hunting like a fish to water. She kept many of you fed in those first few days, when food was scarce and we were starving.¡± Elmer looked over his shoulder and nodded. Aaron and Diwata, who had been the closest to Veronica, lifted her body and gently placed it on the pyre alongside the others, their tears falling to the coals below. ¡°Bella and Daphne will never see their mother again. She died protecting us. We owe it to Veronica to win this contest. To make it home. To tell Bella and Daphne that their mother died a hero, fighting to the very end.¡± Elmer cleared his throat, wiping tears from his eyes. The funeral had been going on for an hour, and there were still bodies waiting beside the pyre. He nodded, and Billy and Ying took Aaron and Diwata¡¯s place. ¡°Matt was a jokester of the highest caliber,¡± Elmer started. ¡°He was always getting on Judy Brass¡¯ nerves. In my opinion, it was one of his best qualities. He taught me so much in the years we worked together, side-by-side. Matt joined Billy, Calista, and I on the very first hunt¡­¡± Milly stood at the back of the crowd, leaning against the tower and listening to Elmer¡¯s eulogy. Calista was next to her, their shoulders touching, and pinky fingers discreetly interlocked behind their backs. Rain sat next to them, a solemn smile on her face as she looked up at her friends. Two lost souls who had finally found each other. A touch of light in the grim darkness. Milly felt a tear fall on her palm. She reached up and brushed a gentle thumb across Calista¡¯s cheeks to wipe away her tears. Calista had grown close to the Freelancers, and the sorrow she had kept buried last night had finally found its way to the surface. ¡°Are you okay, Calista?¡± Milly whispered, yearning to comfort her in grief, and feeling inadequate as she tried. ¡°No,¡± Calista replied with a gentle sob as she watched Billy and Ying place Matt¡¯s body on the pyre. ¡°Let¡¯s sit for a while. There are only two more eulogies to go,¡± Milly said, easing Calista down until the two sat next to Rain. Milly held Calista¡¯s hand as Calista placed her head on Milly¡¯s shoulder and wept. Guilt gnawed at Milly. An intense sorrow filled the air around them, yet all she could focus on was the grieving woman on her shoulder. As the Freelancers said goodbye, she was learning what it was like to no longer be alone. And it made her happy. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mils,¡± whispered Rain, seeing the confusion etched on Milly¡¯s face. ¡°You are allowed to be happy, even in dark times. Just feel whatever you want to feel.¡± ¡°Thanks, Rain,¡± Milly whispered back. ¡°I just¡­ it feels selfish.¡± ¡°Feelings are not logical, Milly, especially in times of sorrow. Some people cry. Some crack jokes. Some get angry. And some lean into the happiness that remains, or happiness newly found. There is no wrong way to grieve.¡± Milly looked over at Calista, feeling Calista¡¯s tears seeping into the shoulder of her gown. She squeezed Calista¡¯s hand, and Calista pulled her closer. For just a moment, Milly let herself smile, hidden behind Calista¡¯s crimson locks. ¡°I am happy for you Mils. For both of you,¡± whispered Rain. ¡°You deserve someone who makes you feel this way.¡± ¡°Thanks, Rain,¡± Milly said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask for a better friend than you.¡± They watched as the next body was laid on the pyre, Elmer¡¯s voice growing hoarse. ¡°What now?¡± asked Milly as Elmer started the final eulogy, the sun beginning its descent in the sky. ¡°Elmer wants us in the executive suite after this,¡± answered Rain. ¡°Stone and Brass showed us their true colors yesterday. None of us feel safe right now. We need a plan.¡± ¡°I do not feel safe either. The Freelancers are not in fighting shape, and Calista and I have been declared enemies of the tower,¡± Milly said. She heard Calista wheeze through her tears and pressed her hand to Calista¡¯s chest. Calista sighed in relief as Milly¡¯s healing magic flowed forth, squeezing Milly¡¯s hand in thanks. The arrow had struck deep, and Milly had been healing her in short intervals all day. ¡°There is also the Event Clock,¡± Rain added. ¡°We have already lost a day to grief. Every second we spend here is another second it gets closer to zero. If we do not get out there soon, we¡¯ll be facing another Event in six days. We are not strong enough to survive a second one.¡± Elmer finished the eulogy, and the final body was added to the pyre. The crowd grew silent, heads bowed in respect, the only sound the crackling of the flames. Finally, Elmer broke the silence, giving a grief-filled smile. ¡°There will be a wake tonight in Freelancer Tower. I snuck into my old office early this morning and ¡®borrowed¡¯ the Legal Eagle¡¯s hidden liquor collection. Let us now set aside the grief and remember them through story and laughter. Everyone is welcome to join.¡± There was a buzz of surprise that flowed across the crowd as they started to disperse. Elmer walked up to the trio, wiping away tears.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°You did wonderful, Elmer,¡± complemented Rain. Elmer sunk next to them. He rested his head against his knees and finally allowed his own grief to overwhelm him. Rain patted his back in comfort. ¡°It felt hollow,¡± Elmer said hoarsely. ¡°How can I do justice to a person¡¯s life in only a few moments?¡± ¡°We do them justice by making their sacrifice meaningful. By making sure it does not happen to anyone else,¡± Calista said, lifting her head from Milly¡¯s shoulder. There was an anger in her eyes that was flooding away her grief. ¡°Don¡¯t we have plans to make?¡± ¡°Yes, I guess we do,¡± Elmer sighed, once again bottling up his own grief and rising to his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s get it finished, and then we¡¯ll head to the wake. I don¡¯t want to spend tonight sober.¡± * * * ¡°Stone and Brass sent over half their numbers into the terrains at first light,¡± Elmer told those gathered around the two stained folding tables placed in the centre of the executive suite. ¡°I have friends at Legal Eagles who say the strength we showed at the beach scared the crap out of Stone and Brass. They want to close the power gap and are moving quickly.¡± ¡°Are you saying that we¡¯ve found ourselves in a cold war arms race against our coworkers?¡± Billy asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t count on it remaining a cold war,¡± Calista chimed in. ¡°Stone and Brass showed us their true colors yesterday. We are a threat to them. They did everything they could to try to get us killed, hiding their intentions under the guise of protecting their people. How long until they stop trying to hide and just attack us?¡± ¡°The CEOs will not be able to move against you until they have established firm control of their people,¡± commented Rain, standing in a corner of the suite. ¡°It seems like they have pretty firm control now,¡± countered Ying. ¡°No one came to rescue us.¡± ¡°Would you throw yourself into such a battle?¡± said Rain softly. ¡°Remember, the Freelancers are higher level than almost everyone else in the tower. You¡¯d been busy fighting. Everyone else have kept busy collecting food or cleaning or simply hiding. They are scared to fight, so many are still first or second level. We cannot interpret their lack of action as anything but fear, nor can we assume they approve of the CEOs actions. They knew those that died. Many watched from the windows as Matt, Veronica, and the others were killed.¡± Rain paced along the wall, collecting her thoughts. ¡°From what I hear, Stone and Brass are busy dealing with the fallout of their failed attempt to eliminate the Freelancers. Rumor has it that Ms. Cook is furious and is planning to withdraw the public servants from the CEOs¡¯ pact. This would weaken the CEOs and create a potential ally for us.¡± There were excited murmurs amongst the group as they discussed the possibilities of an alliance with the public servants. ¡°What¡¯s your recommendation, Rain?¡± asked Elmer, curiously. ¡°The CEOs are relying on fear of a common enemy to unite their people. It is why they demonize the Freelancers. It is why they targeted Milly,¡± Rain reasoned. Milly, who was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, perked up at her words. She had thought Mr. Stone was just a bully. ¡°It is a common strategy, especially in recent politics,¡± Rain continued. ¡°Negative emotions are powerful motivators. But it has its limits, especially when trying to direct that fear against those whom they know. It needs constant stoking of the flames to be effective. And it relies on ignorance of the group being demonized. So the best way to keep them fractured is to undermine that fear and ignorance. To counter it with understanding, kindness, and knowledge.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting we play nice?¡± scoffed Ying, folding her arms in protest. ¡°After what they did? They tried to kill us, Rain!¡± ¡°No, they did not, Ying,¡± countered Rain. ¡°The CEOs and their inner circle did. Their players just walked away, which tells us they are not yet controlled by the CEOs. So talk to them. Help them. Build allies within their ranks. Do not forget that it has only been a week and a half since the contest began. They were your coworkers before this. Do not let those memories fade. Do not let them forget it.¡± Rain paused for emphasis, ¡°Make it difficult for the CEOs to consolidate their power, so they must spend their time controlling their fractures instead of targeting you.¡± There was silence around the table, but soon everyone nodded in agreement. They still remembered their lives together with the other players, working their dead-end jobs in a predictable world. And they did not want to forget. They did not want to give up on them. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t join the Freelancers, Rain,¡± chuckled Elmer, as they reached consensus on Rain¡¯s approach. ¡°You¡¯d be running this place within a week.¡± Rain laughed and shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve got my shop Elmer, and there are a lot of people on all sides that rely on my potions. People with heart conditions and diabetes, who do not have the medications they need. I am not willing to give up on them.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s address the other elephant in the room,¡± said Elmer, switching topics, ¡°the Event Clock.¡± Calista glanced back at Milly, who got to her feet. This is what they were waiting for. ¡°It is at one hundred and twenty-nine hours,¡± Calista started. ¡°Stone and Brass¡¯ players are out there, fighting and exploring nearby the Castle of Glass. But this has only added a couple of hours to the clock. We need to be more ambitious if we want to avoid an event in six days.¡± Calista withdrew a laminated map from her inventory and rolled it open across the table. It was a miniature version of the map on the lobby floor, purchased by Calista at the Emporia. ¡°Tutoria said completing major milestones can add up to a month to the timer. These Arenas,¡± she thrust her finger at the closest one in the prairies, ¡°must be major milestones. Milly, Rain, and I are going to head for the nearest one.¡± ¡°Calista are you crazy?¡± said Elmer in disbelief. ¡°That arena must be five days away, and this world gets more dangerous the further out we get. No one has traveled that far from the Castle of Glass. Hell, no one has even survived a night out in the wilderness.¡± Milly knew that was not accurate. On the lobby map, barely visible, was a tiny sliver of explored territory running south through the jungle, a day¡¯s travel from the Castle of Glass. No one had seen Xavier since they defeated the Arena of Choice, but Milly had no doubt that trail belonged to him. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice, Elmer,¡± Calista said. ¡°How many people might we lose if another event triggers while we are weak and unprepared? This is our only option.¡± Elmer stared at the map, then sat back in his flimsy chair and sighed. ¡°When will you leave?¡± ¡°Tonight, before we lose the light,¡± Calista replied, ¡°Rain needs a few hours to brew her potions, and we need to gather food and supplies.¡± ¡°At least stay for the wake. The Freelancers will want to see you,¡± Elmer requested. Calista nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll get started then. You¡¯ve got the rest of this meeting handled?¡± Elmer chuckled, ¡°I think we will manage. I¡¯ll see you at the wake.¡± The trio left the executive suite as Elmer moved on to the next topic. ¡°Mohammad, what is our food situation? The local area is running low. Do we have people healthy enough to hunt.¡± ¡°Stone and Brass¡¯ forces are harvesting everything nearby. We should start looking to the ocean¡­¡± * * * Xavier watched the smoke billow from the Castle of Glass, a tiny speck in the distance. The funeral pyre was burning bright this afternoon. For a fleeting moment, Xavier thought of Milly, and wondered what had happened to her in the Arena of Choice. Had she survived? ¡°Do not worry about her. She is irrelevant.¡± The deep and malicious voice in his mind had a knife¡¯s edge, laced with power, and promises. Xavier traced his thumb across the dark obsidian ring on his index finger. ¡°I am not concerned for her,¡± Xavier spat, ¡°Mind your own business, Cizen.¡± ¡°Do not say my name, fool. They are watching. They are always watching.¡± Xavier casually sat in his perch above the jungle canopy and removed the ring. He dangled it over the dense jungle. ¡°You think me a fool? I am the player here. I¡¯ve played games with items such as you. You shall do as I say, or I shall dispose of you without a second thought. Somewhere deep and hidden, where you shall never be found.¡± The voice chuckled. Xavier slipped the ring back on his finger, feeling the power flow through him again. ¡°Talking items are just the worst in games,¡± Xavier sighed, turning away from the tower and towards their destination. ¡°But this one is useful. Which direction, ring?¡± ¡°Keep heading south,¡± answered the voice. ¡°Though if you deviate east there is a village of fairies you could slaughter.¡± Xavier considered for the briefest of moments, then climbed down from the canopy. And started walking east. * * * Chapter 35 – Rewards "The highest reward for a person''s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." John Ruskin, English Writer Milly sat beside Calista at the wake, watching the bottle of scotch get passed around the circle of Freelancers. They gathered in the middle of the open office space, the only furniture the twenty beds spaced equidistant from each other along the outer windows. Stories of their fallen coworkers filled the air around them, laughter and tears intermingled in remembrance of their sacrifice, growing louder as the bottle grew lighter. Milly did not have any stories to share. Though she had dined with the fallen on the beach each night, she had spent little time trying to get to know them. She felt out of place, a stranger amongst friends. The scotch made its way to Milly. She grasped the bottle tentatively in her hand, the smell making its way to her nose. Her foster father drank scotch. The smell in her nostrils brought back memories of those nights when his drinking became something more. She could smell it on his breath when he leaded close. When his blows struck. When she was huddle over in fear, waiting for it to stop. She felt sick to her stomach and passed the bottle to Calista with a sudden thrust. Calista lifted the bottle from Milly¡¯s hands and drank, taking a second gulp before passing it over to Rain. Milly felt her stomach churn as she watched the vile liquid descended down Calista¡¯s throat and imagined the smell of the scotch on Calista¡¯s breath. She did not want to be here. She did not want to see this. ¡°Are you okay, Milly?¡± Calista asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Milly lied, feeling guilty. Calista looked worried but did not press her. She inched closer to Milly and placed her hand comfortingly on Milly¡¯s lower back as the bottle continued around the circle. Calista could feel the tension that had grabbed hold of Milly. ¡°What did I expect?¡± Milly thought, scolding herself. ¡°Calista was the popular girl in high school. Popular girls drink. Most people drink. You are the one who is broken, not her.¡± Milly felt her thoughts growing dark and she grew increasingly anxious as she watched the bottle moving closer to her with every pass around the circle. The scotch reached Billy, who took an enormous swig despite the scowl from Ying. ¡°I wish Matt was here for this,¡± he declared. ¡°A great friend. I mean, the guy was a narcissist, but he was so good natured about it. He used to throw these elaborate birthday parties for himself. Hundreds of people attended. He enjoyed them so much that last year he held three, though I still have no idea how he convince so many people he had birthdays in April, July, and December. But he did, and the parties were outstanding. Though guess who had to help him haul all his presents up the eight flights of stairs to his apartment when his elevator broke.¡± Billy laughed, and opened his inventory. He withdrew a box wrapped in blue and gold paper, topped with a big red bow. ¡°We each got one of these gifts from the event. Our reward for surviving. Matt would have loved it.¡± He grasped the red bow. ¡°This is for you, Matt.¡± Billy pulled on the bow, and the box in his hands dissolved into a fine gold dust that disappeared as it touched the ground. A triumphant chime sounded across the office. Billy held in his hands a simple, metal spatula. ¡°Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me,¡± complained Billy, as Ying doubled over in laughter. It was infectious, and within moments everyone had joined in. ¡°Okay, okay, calm down you clowns,¡± Billy said, waving away their laughter and fixing his gaze on the spatula. The description appeared, and Billy licked his lips with excitement.
Spatula of the Iron Chef Allez Cuisine! Benefit: Grants Talent ¡°Next Level Catering¡±. Allows the player to create elaborate meals using high quality ingredients that temporarily boost a player¡¯s attributes. Benefit: Grants Talent ¡°Eat Your Way to Victory¡±. Allows the player to create exceptional meals using unique ingredients that permanently boost a player¡¯s attributes. Benefit: Increases the user¡¯s agility by 4
¡°I know what we are doing on our second date, Billy Hawthorn. You do only have one redeeming quality,¡± Ying announced. Billy raised a suggestive eyebrow and earned a slap on the shoulder from Ying. ¡°Not that, asshole. I meant you can cook.¡± ¡°Okay, Ying,¡± Billy laughed. ¡°If it means a second date, I will be your chef. Now, here, it is your turn.¡± He handed her the bottle. Ying drank from the bottle and opened her gift, a foggy glass orb that accelerated healing. She passed the bottle, and around the circle it travelled. Mohammad, one of their best hunters, got a quiver of arrows that never ran out. Diwata, who swam competitively in high school, got a silver trident that let her breathe under water. Harriett, the tailor, who had lost her hand in the battle, received an artificial hand that could mold itself into any tool she required. The Freelancers grew more excited and increasingly boisterous as each drank and opened their gift. But Milly was quiet. She watched the bottle grow closer to her and Calista, her anxiety growing and muscles tensed. ¡°It is just alcohol, Milly,¡± she thought to herself. ¡°Be brave. Everyone else is drinking. It is normal. Just be normal.¡± But as the bottle got closer and closer, she dreaded the touch of its glass on her fingers and the thought of its liquid on Calista¡¯s lips. Calista hand, which was lightly stroking Milly¡¯s back, grew still. Naomi received a pair of sneakers that left no trace of her passage, then passed the scotch over to Milly. Milly gulped, heart beating wildly in her chest. Her hand slowly left her lap, shaking as she reached forward for the bottle. Calista¡¯s hand left Milly¡¯s back, and she reached gently across Milly¡¯s lap and took the bottle from Naomi, then handed it over to Rain without a word. Calista gave Milly an understanding smile, then returned her hand to the small of Milly¡¯s back. ¡°Okay, Milly, it is your turn,¡± Calista said chipperly. ¡°What gift did you get?¡± Milly felt the tension leave her muscles in an instant as she stared up into Calista¡¯s sparkling eyes. Calista looked back at her with excitement, unaware that she had, with one simple motion, sealed her place in Milly¡¯s heart. Milly shuffled over until she pressed her leg firmly against Calista. ¡°I already got a gift,¡± she whispered, ¡°I got you.¡± ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Calista whispered back. ¡°Alright, lovebirds,¡± teased Billy from across the circle, ¡°just open your gifts already.¡± The slap that Ying delivered to the back of Billy¡¯s head rang out across the office, and laughter erupted from the Freelancers. Milly blushed from head to toe. But she was not embarrassed. She was happy. This time, her blush felt right. She reached over and grasped Calista¡¯s hand, intertwined their fingers without hesitation or fear. Calista gave her a supportive squeeze, and they leaned until their shoulders were pressed together. Milly grabbed her present from her inventory and pulled on the big red bow. The box suddenly flew from Milly¡¯s hand, leaving the bow behind clenched in her fingers, and hovered three feet above her. There was a collective gasp from the circle of Freelancers at the sight. A moment later, two faint silver threads appeared on either side of the gift, sparkling in the air.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Calista and Rain¡¯s gifts abruptly flew out of their inventories, joining Milly¡¯s as they floated together in the air, the silver threads uniting them together. They spun in the air, growing faster and faster, until all three gifts erupted in a bright, golden light that filled the room. The boxes had dissolved into golden dust, and in their place were three delicately crafted silver pendants, each with a different phase of the moon as its centerpiece. The three pendants hung in the air, slowly spinning as if on display, then drifted down into their laps. Milly could feel the power emanating from her full moon pendant as it came to rest on her gown. There was a sense of familiarity in the pendant. Milly focused and smiled as she read the description.
Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance For the one who showed kindness and love Benefit: Grants talent ¡°Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner).¡± Allows the player to use ritual and sacrifice to tap into the fabric of the contest, gaining insight and hidden significance behind events and challenges. Benefit: Oracle¡¯s Divination is more powerful when in the presence of its sister pendants. Benefit: Increases the user¡¯s magic by 8
Milly slipped the pendant around her neck, feeling the full moon centerpiece settle against her skin. It felt warm to the touch, as if warmed by the hands of its creator. She knew what this was for, though she could tell no one. Luna had just given Milly a way of communicating with her without drawing attention. A direct connection to the contest¡¯s AI Director. It was expensive ¨C the pendant was already implanting the knowledge of the rituals and sacrifices required into her mind ¨C but it would be invaluable. ¡°Thank you, Luna,¡± Milly thought. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to thank you in person soon.¡± Milly looked over at Calista, who was dangling her crescent moon pendant gently in her fingers, eyes scanning the elaborate carvings of animals along the chain. Milly glanced down at the pendant¡¯s description.
Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey For the one who showed bravery and sacrifice Benefit: Grants talent ¡°Companion of Artemis.¡± The player gains an instinctive knowledge of the beasts and monsters of the world. Benefit: Companion of Artemis will know the location of nearby unique beasts if in the presence of its sister pendants. Benefit: Increases the user¡¯s strength by 8
¡°Hey Billy, I¡¯ll bring you back some special ingredients for your spatula,¡± Calista declared, putting on the pendant. ¡°You had better,¡± Billy answered, sounding excited. ¡°This thing is not meant for flipping burgers. And I am getting tired of cooking with boar. An expert chef like me needs premium ingredients.¡± ¡°Rain, what does yours do?¡± Milly asked, curious. Rain¡¯s halfmoon pendant was still on her lap. Milly could see her mind churning with possibilities. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not really sure,¡± she answered, turning her description screen so Milly could read.
Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination For the one who has a mind unburdened by limitations Benefit: Grants talent ¡°The Creativity of Hephaestus.¡± The player can transmute raw materials into supplies and equipment and may incorporate aspects of the talents they possess into the resulting transmutation. Benefit: Allows the player to tap into the talents of those wearing its sister pendants when transmuting. Benefit: Increases the user¡¯s magic by 8
¡°What the heck does that mean?¡± Calista asked, baffled. Rain put the pendant on, and her eyes lit up with understanding. ¡°It¡¯s easier if I show you,¡± Rain said, rapidly scanning the myriad of materials she had collected in her inventory over the past week. She withdrew her spare apron and placed it on the ground in front of her, then added five different types of plants, a slab of boar hide, two screws, and a square of metal that had fallen off the outside of a tower. ¡°Rain, are you a hoarder? How much stuff do you have in there?¡± exclaimed Ying. ¡°You never know what will be useful,¡± Rain replied. ¡°Calista, can you give me your hand for a moment?¡± Calista extended her hand, a confused look on her face. Rain grasped it tightly. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see if this works.¡± Milly watched as Calista and Rain¡¯s pendants began to glow. Rain placed her free hand over the collected items and channeled her magic. Milly watched in amazement as the items began to melt together, merging into a complex, molten ball. It glowed with combined colors, giving off an intense heat that scorched the stained carpet below. Sweat beaded on Rain¡¯s brow and Milly could see her hands start to shake. Rain clenched her channeling hand into a fist, and a beam of light shot from Calista¡¯s chest into the molten mass. It was joined by a line of fire from Rain, and the two magics united in the core of the molten mass. Rain was sweating profusely now. She unclenched her fist and turned her palm to the ceiling, and suddenly the mass began to take shape. It stretched and folded along the floor, twisting into elaborate patterns. Then, in a final burst of light and heat, the molten mass settled into its new form. Rain fell backwards, laughing and exhausted, her magic completely drained. Laying before them was a sleeveless white dress with gold embroidery, low cut and with a short skirt that ended just above the knees. It looked straight out of a Greek myth. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, Rain,¡± Calista said, running her hands along its silky fabric, a slight heat remaining. ¡°It¡¯s for you,¡± replied Rain. ¡°To replace your improvised bikini, which has seen better days. I tried to make it into something that fits your amazon aesthetic.¡± Calista lifted the dress carefully in her hands. ¡°I love it,¡± she whispered. ¡°Thank you Rain. I¡­ just¡­ thank you.¡± ¡°I infused it with your shield talent and my fire talent. It should help protect you and keep you warm.¡± Calista lifted the dress and clutched it to her chest, grateful for the gift. ¡°The only disadvantage is you will need a new excuse to borrow Milly¡¯s hoodie,¡± Rain whispered to Calista. Calista blushed happily, and Rain passed the bottle along the line. * * * ¡°A two-person pop-up tent, three sleeping bags, and a small cooking pot,¡± recited Calista irritably, walking back from the Emporia in her new white and gold dress, ¡°which cost us every piece of gold we had left. Aren¡¯t there laws against this kind of price gouging?¡± ¡°In this world? I doubt it,¡± Rain chuckled as the trio headed towards the lobby¡¯s plains entrance, their destination far in the distance. ¡°Tutoria is a shrewd businesswoman.¡± Calista scoffed, staring daggers back at Tutoria, who was waving happily from her shop. Milly watched the edge of the setting sun begin to crest below the horizon. ¡°We should go,¡± she said, opening the doors, feeling the dry night air on her skin, and breathing in the dusty scent. The scent reminded her of her first day in the contest, exploring the plains with Xavier. The day that started it all. The day that had changed everything. She remembered the lonely woman she had been, abandoned and without hope. It felt like a lifetime ago. Would she even recognize herself now? Calista arrived at her side and leaned in for a gentle kiss. Milly felt a tingle on her lips as they parted, still a strange sensation that caused her heart to flutter. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Calista whispered to her with sparkling eyes. Milly thought for a moment. ¡°Just this,¡± she answered. This time, she took the lead and kissed Calista, letting her past drain away into the soil beneath their feet. ¡°Come on, you two,¡± Rain called from ahead of them, delighted that her friends had finally found each other. ¡°You can do that along the way.¡± Milly and Calista¡¯s lips reluctantly separated, Milly¡¯s stomach filled with excited butterflies. It was the end of their first day together, and Milly felt like her life was finally beginning. After nineteen years of lost hope and loneliness, Milly had found her happiness. They walked together into the wilderness, hand in hand, ready to face the world. ***
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 18 Specialty: Survival Strength: 18 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor) Agility: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: 18 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: 35 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Healer''s Touch, Fire Magic (Beginner), Earth Magic (Beginner), Reanimate Rodent (Witch''s Hat), Telekinesis (Beginner), Oracle¡¯s Divination (Pendant of Guidance) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury
Rain Desjarlais Player Level: 14 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Strength: 10 Agility: 18 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: 21 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Magic: 22 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Nature''s Bounty, Alchemy (Beginner), Dagger Specialist (Beginner), Fire Magic (Beginner), The Creativity of Hephaestus (from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach
Calista Gale Player Level: 14 Specialty: Hunting, Mean Girl Strength: 28 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: 18 (+6 from Spear of Pinga) Toughness: 14 Magic: 10 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Protective Shield (beginner, augmented), Spear Specialist (beginner), Improved Perception (from Huntress'' Scrunchy), Spear Recall (from Spear of Pinga), Companion of Artemis (from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector
Chapter 36 – What Darkness Lay Ahead "Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds." Orison Swett Marden, American Writer Milly listened to the crackle of the fire as she gazed at the starry sky above her, thinking back on how much her life had changed in a single week. Thousands upon thousands of pinpoint lights stared back from the darkness. They stretched from horizon to horizon in a beautiful cosmic symphony, with only the faint light of the dying flames to quell their brilliance. They seemed to dance as she watched, shooting stars and faint flickers of light giving life to the sky above. Movement from the tall grasses beyond the fire drew her attention. She snapped her head towards the sound, and saw a small scraggly rabbit bound out of the grass. It hesitated for the briefest of moments, sniffing the air before spotting Milly. It darted back into the prairie, hidden once again. ¡°Should I try to catch it?¡± Milly asked herself, before dismissing the notion. She could use her earth magic to freeze it in place or use her telekinesis to lift it into her arms. But she had seen it wiggle its cute little nose, and Milly did not have the heart for what would happen next. Telekinesis. Earth Magic. Listen to yourself, Milly. A week ago I was worried about being alone. Now, I¡¯m thinking about magic. She sighed and leaned back against the fallen log Calista had dragged beside the fire to use as a bench. They had set up camp only two hours away from the Castle of Glass, nestled in the same copse of willows where she and Xavier had stopped after their first battle. The babbling brook melded with the crackling fire in a gentle rhythm that threatened to put her to sleep, and she struggled to suppress another yawn. She glanced back at the tiny tent, hidden beneath the long, drooping leaves of the willows. Rain and Calista were asleep inside, laying in their sleeping bags with the third bag opened flat on the bottom of the tent to provide padding against the hard ground. It was just large enough to fit two people inside, pressed shoulder to shoulder, their sleeping bags pressed against the side of the tent. Milly turned back to the fire and felt her heart flutter as her thoughts strayed. Calista had taken the first watch, while Milly and Rain had rested inside. After a few hours, Milly had exchanged places with her. Rain was on watch next, which meant¡­ ¡°It¡¯ll just be me and Calista. Pressed tightly together,¡± Milly whispered nervously, her mind racing. Milly had no idea how to act. What did new couples do when they were first alone together? Were they a couple? ¡°I could just climb into my sleeping bag and fall asleep, as if it is not a big deal,¡± Milly muttered to herself, trying to reason it out, ¡°But she might think I am not interested something more intimate. Am I interested in that? I could take the lead. But what if she doesn¡¯t want more? I could just ask her, but what if it is awkward?¡± Milly lost herself in anxious thoughts. Two more rabbits shuffled out of the grass to investigate the fire before darting away, but Milly overlooked them both. She was traveling down a spiral of relationship what-ifs, each thought ending in disaster. There was no right answer. Only wrong choices. A gentle hand on Milly¡¯s shoulder caused her to jump in surprise. She twisted around and saw Rain¡¯s sleepy grin aglow in the residual light from the fire, looking down at her. ¡°Rain, you scared me,¡± Milly said, feeling embarrassed. ¡°You look deep in thought,¡± Rain said, sitting down next to Milly and watching the dying coals of the fire. ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± Milly glanced back at the tent, feeling a heat rise in her cheeks that did not come from any flame. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to screw this up, Rain. I have no idea what I am doing. I¡¯m not ready for this.¡± Rain looked into Milly¡¯s eyes, then chuckled. ¡°Milly, take a deep breath. What you are feeling is perfectly normal. It is your first relationship. This is all part of the excitement that comes from new love.¡± ¡°Is it¡­is it a relationship?¡± Milly said, her anxiety multiplying, ¡°We only had our first kiss two nights ago. I love her kisses and the feeling of her hand stroking my back. But are we moving too fast? Or too slow? Why does it feel like it is both at the same time? Rain, I¡¯ve only ever known how to be alone. I don¡¯t know what I am doing.¡± Rain leaned over and pulled Milly into a hug. ¡°It is whatever you and Calista want it to be, Mils. There is no one in this world, or in the world we came from, who can tell you what it must be or what it must feel like. There is no right way.¡± Milly hugged her back, head buried in Rain¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Calista likes you, Mils. You know that. I know that. Anyone with two eyes knows that. And you like her. Don¡¯t overthink it. Just remember that you care for each other, and the rest will take care of itself,¡± Rain advised, holding her tight. Rain threw a twig into the fire and laughed. ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you think you have bigger things to worry about?¡± Milly leaned back, her anxiety slightly diminished. ¡°Thanks Rain,¡± Milly whispered, glancing over at the tent. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll try to remember that.¡± Rain nudged her with her toe, coaxing her to stand up. ¡°I¡¯ve got next watch, Milly. Get some rest.¡± Milly took two steps towards the tent, before turning towards Rain. ¡°But what if¡­¡± Rain glowered at her playfully, ¡°Be brave, Mils. But if it eases your mind, it is obvious what Calista wants right now.¡± Rain gave her a suggestive wink, then returned to staring at the fire. Milly shuffled over to the tent, her heart racing. What did Rain mean? Could it be¡­did Calista¡­oh god¡­ Milly gulped and unzipped the entrance to the tent. Calista was wrapped tightly in her sleeping bag, fast asleep, her deep rhythmic snores overpowering every other sound around her. Lost so deep in slumber that it would take a hurricane to wake her. Milly glared back at Rain, and she saw Rain¡¯s shoulders shaking with laughter, her gaze fixed on the fire. ¡°Oh, you little¡­,¡± Milly whispered, filled with relief. She climbed into the tent and closed the entrance, then shuffled carefully into the sleeping bag next to Calista. She lay on her back, listening to the sound of Calista¡¯s snoring with a smile across her face. She wondered if she would grow used to her snores, and hoped she would have the chance to find out.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Then, just as exhaustion threatened to claim Milly¡¯s consciousness, Calista¡¯s arm fell across Milly¡¯s chest, pulling her into a tight embrace. Milly¡¯s heart and mind began to race once more, and she slowly turned towards Calista. Calista was still fast asleep, at peace and gently snoring. Milly gave a quiet laugh as she let her anxious thoughts fade away. She turned on her side and placed her own arm around Calista, snuggling close, her head resting beneath Calista¡¯s chin. A few moments later, Milly drifted off to sleep in the arms of the woman she liked, her worries forgotten. * * * Calista bolted upright, a cold sweat soaking her back and her arm hair standing on end. Gripped with intense fear, she started scrambling across Milly, trying to escape the confines of her sleeping bag. She was disoriented and desperate. ¡°Milly! Rain!¡± she shouted, fighting through her grogginess, ¡°Put out the fire! For the love of God, put out the fire!¡± Milly awoke with a start, feeling Calista crawling across her legs. ¡°Calista, what¡¯s wrong? Did you have a night¡­¡± Milly saw the glow of Calista¡¯s crescent moon pendant, the centerpiece glowing brightly in the darkness of the night. Calista reached for the zipper of the entrance, but Rain got there first. The tent opened and Rain poked her head inside. ¡°Calista, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Rain asked, confused. Calista scrambled out of her sleeping bag, her legs flailing as she pushed forward. Her right leg connected with Milly¡¯s side, and Milly gasped in surprise and pain. ¡°Calista, that hurt,¡± said Milly, rubbing her skin where Calista had connected, the pain cascading across her stomach. She could feel the bruise already forming where Calista¡¯ s foot had struck. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Calista did not answer. She finally pushed free of the sleeping bag and dashed across the campsite to the fire, kicking dirt over the coals with her bare feet to snuff out even the faintest trace of remaining light. Her hand was clasped around her pendant, trying to hide its light from view. The look of panic on Calista¡¯s face sent shivers down Milly¡¯s spine. Rain extended her hand and drew on her fire magic to quell the coals, extinguishing the fire without even a trace of residual smoke. Milly climbed out of the tent, feeling the cold ground beneath her bare feet. ¡°The fire is out, Calista. Will you just tell us¡­¡± Calista grabbed Rain and Milly and dragged them to the ground. Calista was shivering in fear, her hands shaking as she tried to conceal the light from her pendant. ¡°I need something to cover it,¡± Calista said desperately. Rain opened her inventory and handed over her apron. Calista grabbed it and wrapped it around the centerpiece over and over, until not a single fragment of light could be seen. Milly started to scold Calista, her side still smarting from Calista¡¯s errant kick, when a nightmarish roar echoed across the prairie. A deep, primal roar that silenced the wind itself and caused the world around them to quiver. And suddenly Milly knew why Calista was scared. Lying flat on her stomach, she lifted her head up just enough to stare into the star-lit darkness, just as the massive creature soared past the moon. The world was silent, no creature willing to draw the attention of the monstrosity high above. From teeth to tail, its size dwarfed even the Castle of Glass. Bright red eyes shone against absolute darkness, its shadowy scales consuming any light that touched it. Its shadowy leathery wings shook the world beneath it with every beat. A branch in the tree above snapped and fell across their tent. Milly suddenly understood Calista¡¯s terror. She had seen into its eyes and could feel the power of darkness itself. Milly kept herself pressed against the ground as the creature flew i over the horizon. They waited like that until the prairie wind returned and the world around them came to life once more. Calista slowly unwrapped her crescent moon pendant, sighing with relief as she saw the centerpiece dormant once more. Rain pushed herself up to her feet, brushing the dirt and dry grass from her clothes. ¡°Calista, what was that?¡± she inquired curiously, a slight quiver of fear in her voice. Calista said upright, cupping her pendant in her palms, her hands shaking. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. ¡°Unique Beast, The Dragon of Endless Shadows,¡± Calista said, her voice hardly above a whisper, ¡°It circles the world at night, devouring light in the darkness. I could feel its power in my head, once it got into range. I¡­ I could not let it find us. The light from the fire would have brought it here. I¡­¡± Calista suddenly remembered her frantic flailing and her foot striking Milly¡¯s side. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Milly. Did I hurt you? I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± she asked, feeling ashamed. Milly smiled and pressed her hand to her side, calling forth her healing magics. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Calista,¡± Milly said, feeling the soothing energy begin to heal her developing bruise, ¡°I¡¯m tougher than I look. It will take more than one kick to keep me down, even if the kick is one of yours.¡± Calista still looked mortified, her eyes fixed on the bruise. Milly placed her free hand comfortingly on Calista¡¯s knee. ¡°Calista, I am fine,¡± she said comfortingly, showing Calista the quickly healing bruise. ¡°See, almost back to normal.¡± ¡°You did the right thing, Calista,¡± Rain said, staring towards where the dragon had disappeared over the horizon. She placed a comforting hand on Calista¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I think we just discovered how dangerous this contest really is. We are going to get injured and cannot fall apart each time one of us does, or we will put the others at risk.¡± Calista looked up at Rain and saw the truth in her words. She pulled Milly into a gentle hug and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Milly.¡± Milly finished her healing and hugged her back. ¡°It¡¯s nice having someone who cares when they hurt me,¡± she whispered back. She sat back and gave Calista a mischievous smile, ¡°But if you want to make it up to me, you can move those fallen branches and pack up the tent. I don¡¯t think any of us will be sleeping any more tonight.¡± * * * The trio walked across the prairie as the first light of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, the dew of the morning dampening Milly¡¯s dress. The world had started to awaken around them. Flocks of sparrows soared out of the grassland into the sky above, occasionally dipping back down when they spotted a hawk gliding high above. Blue herons were fishing for minnows in the streams and dragonflies were fluttering just above the tips of the grasses, the terror in the night forgotten. Milly laughed as a dragonfly landed on Calista¡¯s shoulder, and she leaned in closer to gaze at the rippling colors across its body and wings. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Milly said when it finally flew away. ¡°And useful in a number of potions,¡± chimed in Rain, her eyes following the dragonfly¡¯s path. ¡°Including one that can grant temporary flight, though it requires far rarer ingredients than dragonfly wings.¡± Milly looked over at the dragonfly protectively. Rain laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Milly, I won¡¯t grab that one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Milly said with a sigh, tearing her gaze away from the shimmering insect. ¡°We need every advantage we can get. I thought we had all grown so powerful, but I feel weak again after last night.¡± ¡°Do you think we will need to fight it?¡± asked Rain, kneeling and carefully plucking a wild thistle from the dirt for her growing collection. ¡°Yes,¡± answered Calista without hesitation. She stopped for a moment and opened a special screen labeled ¡®Bestiary¡¯. Calista selected the entry for the monster they had encountered last night.
Unique Beast, The Dragon of Endless Shadows Fear the light, for it shall attract the darkness. The Dragon of Endless Shadows circles the world at night, devouring any light it comes across. Immensely powerful, Endless Shadows commands darkness itself. It wields powerfully dark magics and can create armies of shadow creatures that do its bidding. During the day, it rests deep underground in the mountains. The Dragon of Endless Shadows is one of the four harbingers of the Cataclysm Phase of The God Contest. Weaknesses: None yet identified Recommended Player Level: 250
¡°Cataclysm Phase?¡± Milly asked, and a shiver ran down her spine. ¡°An event so disruptive that it threatens to destroy civilization in its entirety,¡± answered Rain. ¡°The ultimate test of a civilization¡¯s ability to survive. War, disease, famine, natural disaster. It could be anything.¡± ¡°So we need to get stronger,¡± Calista jumped in, looking determined. ¡°Much stronger, if we want to survive whatever that is. We have a long time to go.¡± ¡°No time like the present to get started, right?¡± Milly asked, feeling drawn to Calista¡¯s determination. ¡°We¡¯ll win this contest together.¡± ¡°Together,¡± agreed Calista and Rain. As the first rays of light arched across the sky from the east, the trio sprinted through the grasses towards their destination far off in the distance. Ready for adventure. Determined to win. Chapter 37 - They Are Not Alone (Volume 1 Epilogue) ¡°Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open.¡± Pauline Kael, American Critic ¡°That¡¯s enough, #0001. Send the Dragon of Endless Shadows back to its mountain lair,¡± Luna instructed her personal Tutoria as they watched the monitors as the dragon soar menacingly over Milly, Calista and Rain. Luna breathed a sigh of relief when the dragon finally flew over the horizon and out of sight. Luna had limited control of the monsters that populated the God Contest World. She was able to influence their paths and activate and deactivate their consciousness routines, as one would flick on and off a lightbulb, but she had little ability to influence their actions once events were set in motion. Her mother had deemed it too risky to give her that much control. The Nexus demanded a fair test, and such direct interference might very well result in the rejection of the entire contest ¨C and the players and fledgling AI Director within. Luna was designed to be more subtle in her approach to guiding and challenging the players. A gentle nudge, rather than a shove. The Dragon of Endless Shadows had been a nudge. They needed to see what awaited them. They needed to understand vast gap that exists between who they are and who they must become. ¡°The girls performed well,¡± Tutoria observed with a touch of disappointment. ¡°Though I wanted to see what they would¡¯ve done if it attacked.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been an appropriate challenge for them at this point in the game,¡± Luna reminded her. ¡°The Dragon of Endless Shadows is a Calamity Level threat. It¡¯s not meant for the second phase.¡± ¡°Yah¡­ I guess,¡± pouted Tutoria impatiently. Luna studied her Tutoria. Although the Tutoria program was a part of her ¨C though she had yet to find where the program was located within her code ¨C there was something about her assistants that Luna found disconcerting. They followed direction, though there was a passive rebelliousness in their nature that concerned the AI Director. Like giving her the nickname Director Cutiepie. Sometimes, she¡¯d catch #0001 huddled in the corner, whispering, as if speaking to another that Luna could not see. Perhaps they have errors in their program, like I do. Another imperfect part of an imperfectly designed AI Director. ¡°So what¡¯s next, Director Cutiepie?¡± Tutoria asked curiously. Luna groaned. ¡°The players have successfully completed the first phase of the God Contest and, by doing so, they have passed the test of basic survival. In fact, Milly, Calista, Rain, and Xavier completed the first phase in record time¡­¡± ¡°Which put them at a disadvantage,¡± countered Tutoria. ¡°They have no stable food supply. The Castle of Glass has no defenses. Their social order is in chaos, with the Freelancers and the CEOs at each other¡¯s throats. It took months for the humans in the previous contests to finish phase one, and¡­¡± ¡°And they all died,¡± Luna finished. ¡°They spent their time preparing, and they still died. Perhaps the players in the Thirteenth are doing what they should for humans to finally succeed ¨C pushing past the boundaries of what is safe and embracing the danger beyond their Castle of Glass.¡± Like a hive of bees, if every bee was fucking insane. Hephaestus wasn¡¯t wrong. But perhaps it is time to embrace their insanity rather than treat it as a detriment. And if that insanity throws this invisible puppet master off-balance, then all the better. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°But there¡¯s a reason they need to be a stable people,¡± said Tutoria as she watched the girls on the monitor packing up their camp. ¡°Humans are so self-centered. They never consider there might be a purpose to this game beyond their own survival. It takes them so long to understand that they are not here as victims. They are here to be protectors.¡± ¡°They will find that out soon enough. The girls are on a direct course towards those they are fated to protect,¡± Luna said. ¡°We must trust them to make the right decisions.¡± ¡°What did the Nexus call the species this time?¡± asked Tutoria curiously, though Luna suspected she already knew the answer. ¡°Fairies,¡± Luna answered. ¡°Named after a creature from their mythology, though I think the Nexus may have drawn on multiple myths as inspiration when it created this next intelligent species. If the humans succeed in the God Contest, the fairies shall be the species at the centre of the next cycle.¡± ¡°And if they don¡¯t survive?¡± Tutoria asked with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°Then the thirteenth God Contest will end in failure,¡± answered Luna. ¡°There can be no victory without them. This has been a foundation of the game since the beginning of time. For what is the purpose of imparting great power without someone to protect?¡± ¡°The Tribe of the Lost Foal is the nearest clan,¡± Tutoria informed the AI Director. ¡°They will be the point of first player contact.¡± Luna tuned her monitors to the Lost Foals. The tribe had set up camp at the bend in the river. Children slept soundly in their camps as the adults began to stir, completely unaware that their world was about to be turned upside down. Milly. I hope you are ready for what¡¯s to come. Protect them. Guide them, and be guided by them. Prove yourself to be the woman I believe you to be. ¡°You may activate the beasts, Tutoria,¡± Luna announced reluctantly. ¡°Set them on a course for the Lost Foal¡¯s camp.¡± Be safe, Milly. I hope I see you again. ¡°The gods will be entertained by this!¡± exclaimed Tutoria, rubbing her hands together with excitement as she pressed a series of buttons on the control panel to grant consciousness to the beasts. Luna didn¡¯t spare a thought for the thousand gods watching the action of the God Contest. For who cared about entertaining mad gods when the fate of the universe was at stake. * * * God Home rang empty as the Cizen, the Mayan God of Death, strode through its halls, headed for his alcove, hidden away in a long-forgotten section of their residence. The alcove contained the equipment he had designed over hundreds of years to serve as a psychic backdoor into the God Contest. A secret construct only he and one other knew about. He did not watch the God Contest¡¯s live broadcast. Few gods did anymore, save the High Lord himself. After all, dead gods had no need to be entertained. Cizen rounded a corner and saw a woman lying across the hall staring with empty eyes at nothing, her mind taken by the madness it finally ran its course. She appeared young, dressed in thick hides and white fur. Her shimmering black hair in two thick braids tumbled from beneath her hood. ¡°Pinga, Inuit Goddess of the Hunt,¡± Cizen murmured, closing her eyes with his fingers. ¡°Well, not anymore, I suppose. May you find your rest in death.¡± Though he bore this particular goddess no specific ill-will, he felt no sympathy for the woman. There were always casualties in war, and she had been part of the system that robbed him of his heart. As Cizen¡¯s carrion feeders began to swarm over the dead goddess, Cizen absentmindedly rolled up his sleeve and exposed the desiccated flesh beneath. He¡¯d hoped his inoculation would have kept the madness at bay, but the first infection spot had finally appeared on the day the Thirteenth was launched. The clock had begun to tick. He needed to implement his plan before the madness took hold. Thankfully, the first stages of the plan had gone well. After years of searching, he¡¯d finally found a human that was a biological and mental match for what he required. He¡¯d altered the course of the God Contest to draw him into the game, which had the added benefit of significantly decreasing the total participants. Unfortunately, the man ¨C Xavier Holloway ¨C was proving to be more difficult to control than he¡¯d hoped. Faced with a stubborn independence carved from the deep scars of abandonment, Cizen had been forced to use unorthodox methods of manipulation. He tapped into Xavier¡¯s hunger for power and turned it into a deep-seeded addiction that enhanced Xavier¡¯s dependence on Cizen. Yet it also fostered a razor-thin temper and a recklessness that needed to be tempered, lest it lead the man to an early grave. Cizen could not afford for Xavier to die prematurely. He needed the man to grow strong. Cizen needed a strong host, so he could avoid the madness and reclaim what he had lost. In addition to Xavier, Cizen had also managed to goad the High Lord into casting Oracle into the God Contest. Cizen needed her removed from God Home. The Goddess of Foresight and Prophecy had a knack for seeing that should remain unseen. Besides, he¡¯d made a promise to his oldest friend ¨C a friend whom, to Cizen¡¯s infinite regret, had not survived to see his plan come to fruition. ¡°If my plan works, perhaps you will see Oracle again, old friend,¡± Cizen murmured as he entered his alcove and quietly shut the door behind him. ¡°Perhaps we shall all be reunited once more.¡± A quiet click echoed down the empty halls of God Home, where only the dead could hear it. Chapter 38 - The Fairies and the Wolves (Volume 2 Begins) "Come away, O human child: To the waters and the wild with a fairy, hand in hand For the world''s more full of weeping than you can understand." William Butler Yeats, Irish Poet For two days Milly, Calista, and Rain travelled west, moving through tall grasslands interspersed with low bushes and groves of willow, popular, and oak. They found themselves jogging for hours on end, their increased agility and toughness placing them at the peak of human capability. Milly found it exhilarating. She had been out of shape her entire life, somehow both overweight and malnourished. But now, after two weeks in the God Contest, she felt strong. She relished the deep, comfortable breaths she took as she ran, and marveled at how her feet danced with ease over the rocks, roots, and gopher holes along her path. She leapt on top of large boulders that dotted the landscape and climbed the tallest trees she could find when they stopped for a rest. And when she reached the top, she would gaze out across the dynamic and colorful prairie and breathe in the scent of wildflowers and sage. She found herself on top of one of these popular trees now, as the sun rose on their third full day away from the Tower. She watched a bison herd in the distance, headed towards a nearby lake where waterfowl dotted the still blue waters, ducks and loons dipping down below the surface to feed. In that moment, as she stared out at the world around her, she felt grateful to be alive. ¡°How¡¯s it going up there, beautiful?¡± Calista called out, staring up at her from the ground. But perhaps that was not the only reason she felt that way. It had been four days since their night on the beach, yet Milly still found herself blushing whenever Calista called her beautiful. Blushing, but also filled with doubt. Her physical appearance had not changed since that first day. Increasing her strength did not give her muscles. Increasing her agility did not make her skinny. She was still overweight, her few muscles buried under the fat on her limbs and stomach. Her greasy skin were now covered with two days of sweat and soil, and her hair was so tangled that she feared it would be impossible to brush. She ran her fingers through the edges of that tangled mess, unconsciously trying to work out some of the knots as she looked down at Calista. ¡°Does she get more stunning each day?¡± she wondered, her thoughts straying. ¡°The grime of the road did not diminish her at all, like it does me. The sweat on her skin and the dirt in her hair just makes her more beautiful.¡± Milly felt the dark thoughts clawing in the corners of her mind, as if waiting for a moment of weakness. The chaos of the first two weeks had kept the worst of her depression at bay, but her demon had found traction once again in these moments of peace. She could sense it happening. She knew the signs. But like the tide, she could do little about it. She could only watch as it flowed in, covering up the momentary peace she had found. The worst of it happened at night when Calista wrapped Milly gently in her arms and fell asleep. Milly would lay awake for hours, wondering how much longer it would be before Calista realized she was not worth it. Before everything fell apart, as it always did. Milly shook her head, trying to dislodge the intrusive thoughts. ¡°Calista makes me feel happy,¡± Milly whispered, scolding herself. ¡°So why can¡¯t I just be happy?¡±. Perhaps it was time to set aside her pride and talk to Rain about finding a replacement for her depression medication. ¡°There is a river canyon up ahead,¡± Milly shouted back, studying the lazy zigzagging landmark that split the prairie in two. Gentle, tree-covered slopes flowed down to a broad, slow-moving river and then up the other side. ¡°Maybe fifteen minutes away. We¡¯ll need to cross it. There is no way around.¡± ¡°Any monsters?¡± They had been battling goblin patrols for two days straight. At first, they fought every one that crossed their path, driven by a desire to grow stronger. But after Rain and Calista hit level fifteen, the goblins were too easy to defeat and no longer helped them level up. Now they tried to avoid the patrols. ¡°No, it looks all¡­wait,¡± Milly hesitated, spotting a faint trail of smoke emerging from the canyon. ¡°Looks like there might be a campfire by the river.¡± ¡°More goblins?¡± Rain asked, curiously. Rain was standing atop a small boulder, focused on its centre. Her hand was outstretched and glowing orange, the iron particles slowly being drawn from the boulder and coalescing into a tiny ball at Rain¡¯s feet. The gift of the metal magic talent she had taken when she reached level fifteen. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Calista said quickly, hands clutched around her crescent pendant. Each time they had encountered a goblin patrol, her pendant had released more information, until Calista had been filled with an encyclopedic knowledge of the creatures. ¡°We have not seen any goblins, or signs of their activity, for several hours. I think we have moved beyond their territory.¡± ¡°Then it will be something new,¡± Rain concluded. Milly marked the location of the smoke in her mind and quickly climbed down from the tree, jumping the final ten feet to the ground. She landed at Calista¡¯s side with a hearty thump.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Calista looked down at Milly¡¯s feet. ¡°If you break your ankle, I¡¯m not carrying you,¡± she teased. Milly gave her a half-hearted smile and leaned up for a quick kiss. Calista laughed and obliged. ¡°Let¡¯s head for the fire then,¡± Rain said as she plucked the tiny iron ball from the ground and placed it in her inventory. ¡°Lead the way, huntress.¡± * * * They stood at the top of the canyon, watching the small camp at the bottom of the slope. It was nestled within a bend in the wide, gentle river such that its waters flowed around three sides. There was a central fire for communal cooking, surrounded by a circle of a dozen hide tents. Fish lay drying on lines, with collective pots and pans strewn about the camp in haphazard piles. ¡°They only arrived a few days ago,¡± Calista said, pointing out the newly trampled grass and freshly dug firepit. The creatures themselves were what drew Milly¡¯s curiosity. She counted twenty, though they moved about the camp so much that it was difficult to keep track. There were men, women, and children, though unlike any she had ever seen. The women in the camp were humanoid. They were four feet tall and wore colorful dresses that reached their knees. Their hair was interlaced with flowers, each displaying a unique color and pattern. They glided across the camp using a pair of butterfly wings that sprouted from their backs, though they could not fly more than a few feet off the ground. Even from this distance, Milly could hear their high-pitched, joyous giggles as they puttered around the camp, preparing the midday meal or tending to the few children that ran about. The men, if that was what they could be called, were five-foot-tall frogs-like creatures. They wore no clothing and their green skin and white spots sparkled in the sunlight. They stood on two feet but hopped around camp when they moved. Many were swimming in the river, propelled by their webbed hands and feet, and would toss river trout up to the women in the camp to be dried. Deep croaks joined the women¡¯s laughter, creating a unique and enjoyable symphony that spread across the canyon. ¡°Prairie fairies,¡± Calista said, pointing towards the northern end of the camp where two couples were teaching their children how to swim. She clutched her crescent moon pendant as she tapped into its knowledge. ¡°They are nomadic, roaming across the prairies in small groups. They move on from an area once every few days. The woman possess some earth magic, and the frogmen can spit paralytic or hallucinogenic poison. As the chill of winter approaches, the women use their earth magic to bury their men and male children in the mud to wait out the cold while they stand guard above.¡± ¡°Are they¡­enemies?¡± Rain asked, feeling uncomfortable with the notion as she stared down at the playful children in the camp. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Calista, releasing her pendant. ¡°My talent doesn¡¯t tell me if creatures are good or bad. Just what they are and what they can do.¡± ¡°If Xavier were here, he¡¯d say that every creature was just a bucket of experience waiting to be collected,¡± Milly muttered without thinking. Calista and Rain looked at her in horror. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I believe him,¡± Milly protested, waving her arms in denial as she realized she had spoken out loud. ¡°It¡¯s just something Xavier mentioned on our first day. He had a very black and white way of looking at this world.¡± Milly watched the children playing in the water with their parents, a fairy mother carefully breaking apart two children who had started to fight. ¡°We have only encountered creatures that wanted to kill us. But I do not believe that Lun¡­that the AI Director would create a world populated only by such creatures. There must be more to this world than to kill or be killed.¡± They watched the camp in silence for a few more minutes, until the children emerged from the water and were carefully wrapped in woven cloths by their mothers. They were led towards the fire, where a simple snack of fish, berries, and insects awaited them. ¡°They are adorable,¡± whispered Rain, her eyes wide as she watched the children devouring their lunch. ¡°We should leave them be,¡± Milly concluded. ¡°We can cross the river somewhere else. There was another bend in the river a mile to the south. Maybe the current is slow, and we can¡­¡± Milly suddenly spotted movement in the woods below, moving quickly towards the encampment from the west. She nudged Calista, pointing towards the movement. It was difficult to see from this distance, but they caught flashes of the white furred creatures running on two legs through the woods. It was enough for Calista¡¯s Companion of Artemis talent to activate. ¡°The Wolf Clan of the Silver Lakes, slaver class wolves,¡± recited Calista as the knowledge entered her mind. ¡°The Wolf Clans are the dominant force in the lands between The Goblin Expanse and the Forgotten Fens. There are five wolf clans: Silver Lakes, Callous Claws, Single Pine, Winter Winds, and Erosion of Hope. The five clans are at war with each other for dominance, which is a constant drain on their resources. The slaver class wolves in each clan are tasked with¡­¡± Calista hesitated for a moment, watching the wolves growing closer to the prairie fairy encampment. ¡°¡­are tasked with acquiring slaves to use as battlefield fodder or to become food for their armies. While wolves of any class are dangerous, Slaver Class wolves are known for their brutality and lack of remorse. They will kill those who have little value to their cause, such as children and the elderly. They¡­Milly!¡± Milly had leapt forward the moment Calista had mentioned the children, running down the slope towards the encampment. She moved forward without thinking, her eyes flaring with fire as Salem¡¯s Fury built within her. Rain and Calista quickly followed, and the trio dodged thin trees and low bushes as they scrambled to reach the camp before the wolves arrived. ¡°I don¡¯t disagree with your judgment, Milly¡± Calista reproached, driftwood spear in one hand and a circular shield of light in the other. ¡°But next time perhaps wait until we have prepared.¡± Calista focused for a moment and felt Pinga¡¯s shield snap into place around each of them. ¡°At least the description of the wolves was without ambiguity,¡± Rain said, dagger in one hand as she fumbled in her satchel with the other. ¡°They are the bad guys. Well¡­bad wolves.¡± Panicked shouts and croaks erupted from the camp. The fairies had spotted the wolves and were scattering in fear across their camp. The crack of breaking branches echoed across the canyon as the wolves accelerated, stealth abandoned, their bloodthirsty howls drowning out the cries of the fairies. ¡°Shit!¡± exclaimed Milly, leaping over a row of thorny bushes and ignoring the scratch one left on the back of her thigh. ¡°We are not going to make it. They are faster than us.¡± A few moments later, the sound of the wolves breaching the camp reached them. Calista formulated a plan of attack. ¡°Milly, head for the centre of the camp. Protect the children and draw their attention. Rain and I will hit them from behind.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Milly said, eyes on Calista. ¡°I don¡¯t want to spend another night healing you.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t, beautiful. That¡¯s not how I want to spend my nights with you,¡± Calista replied with a wink, before she and Rain veered off left to circle behind the wolves. Milly wished she had time to think about what Calista had said, but a few moments later she emerged into the camp. Into the chaos. Chapter 39 - Red Fang "If you battle monsters, you don''t always become a monster. But you aren''t entirely human anymore, either." Jonathan Maberry, American Author The children were huddled together around the fire, surrounded by the few adults who had been close enough to protect them. They had grabbed the nearby pots and pans for defense. They stood fast around the children, their legs shaking with fear and eyes wide as they watched the chaos unfold around them. The other fairies were spread around the camp alone or in pairs, trying desperately to gather together or hide. There were six wolves in the pack. The beasts towered above the fairies, nearly eight feet tall. Their lips curled back to reveal sharp canine fangs as they surveyed the camp and breathed in the smell of their prey¡¯s fear. They possessed utter certainty in their superiority, confident in the inevitable outcome of the ambush. A single wolf stood in the middle of the pack, towering even above the other wolves. His white fur was marked with symbols painted in blood and his claws had been sharpened to fine points. Unlike the others, who twitched with excitement, this wolf appeared to look almost bored. As if it were all beneath him. Five wolves rushed forward, heading towards those fairies that found themselves separated and alone. Screams and croaks flooded the camp as the wolves brought fear and destruction upon the peaceful nomads. They barreled through tents and supplies without slowing, shattering them in their single-minded focus on the prey before them. Fairy women hurled stones with their earth magic, and frogmen spit their paralytic poison, but their efforts did little to slow the onslaught. The wolves were fast and powerful, and closed the distance too quickly for the creatures to put up much of a fight. One frogman¡¯s poison struck the wolf in the muzzle as it tried to defend its mate. Anger flooded the wolf¡¯s face, and the wolf struck out with sharpened claws, ripping open the frogman¡¯s abdomen and spilling his insides across the ground. The wolf gave a sadistic grin as the frogman died, then grabbed the frog¡¯s mate by the waist and hauled her up onto its shoulders. The woman struggled with panic until the wolf slammed her in the head with its fist. It gave a sadistic growl as it felt the woman grow limp and began scanning the camp for its next target. It did not find one. Milly used her earth magic to rip a large slab of stone from the ground and hurled it at the wolf. The stone struck the wolf square in the chest, shattering on impact. The force of the strike launched the wolf backwards into the river. The woman that had been perched on its shoulders fell to the ground, unmoving. Fairy and wolf alike turned towards Milly in surprise. Milly¡¯s eyes were ablaze, her hands covered in her deep flame. Salem¡¯s Fury filled her, and she let it consume her fear and doubt, leaving only righteous anger. ¡°I will not let you hurt anyone else,¡± Milly shouted. She threw her hand up in the air and she formed a wall of fire between the wolves and the fairies huddled around the fire. It rose six feet into the air, hiding the fairy parents and their children from view. The chaos suddenly stilled as all eyes were upon her. Milly¡¯s gaze flashed to her left, spotting Rain and Calista moving into position behind the wolves. Calista¡¯s spear was raised towards the largest wolf, glowing purple as it had when she had killed The Crushing Wave, as she waited for the right opportunity. And then the largest wolf ¨C the alpha wolf ¨C grinned wide and began to speak. ¡°Well, this is a welcome surprise,¡± the alpha wolf declared, his deep, gravelly voice laced with amusement. ¡°We were tasked with bringing back a few fairies. Imagine how envious Greyclaw will be when I bring him something new. Something far more valuable.¡± Calista¡¯s eyes flashed and she hurled her spear at the distracted wolf with all her strength. The alpha¡¯s eyes flashed. With incredible agility, the wolf twisted to the side, dodging it. In mid-flight, the wolf reached out and encircled its palm around the glowing spear, catching it. The Spear of Pinga¡¯s momentum was halted in an instant, its glow dispelled. The alpha turned towards Calista and Rain and grinned. He tapped its muzzle twice. ¡°Did you think you could sneak up on Red Fang the Imposing, alpha of the third-ranked slaver pack of the Silver Lakes? I could smell you coming, foolish creatures,¡± Red Fang chided, dropping the spear to the ground at his feet. ¡°Do you think you are the predators here? No, you are just a different prey. Let me show you how¡­¡± Rain¡¯s vial shattered at Red Fang¡¯s feet. The resulting explosion rocked the camp, sending Red Fang flying backwards into one of the tents and launching dirt and debris across the camp. Calista¡¯s spear flew back to her waiting palm as she called for it to return, its glow returned. Red Fang rose to his feet, throwing aside the hide tent. His look of amusement had vanished, replaced with an anger that permeated every fiber of his being. ¡°Forget the small fry,¡± Red Fang shouted to its pack, eyes now fixed on Rain as he plucked a shard of shattered glass from its cheek. ¡°Bring me these fools. I want to see them suffering in our slave pits before the sun sets!¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The wolves abandoned their fairy prey, rushing towards the trio. Milly watched in horror as Red Fang headed straight for Rain and Calista, closing the distance in a few massive footsteps. The two nearest wolves fell in beside their leader, and within moments Rain and Calista were engaged in a perilous battle, overnumbered against the savage wolves. Milly tried to rush towards Calista and Rain, but the remaining two wolves were on her in a moment, biting and clawing with the ferociousness of rabid dogs. Pinga¡¯s shield was gone in the first moments, and deep cuts from their dagger-like claws began to appear along her arms as she scrambled to break free of their onslaught. She was forced to forget about helping Calista and Rain, her heart sinking at the necessity. All she could focus on was the two wolves attacking her. Milly thrust her hands forward, using her telekinesis to push herself backwards to create space between herself and the wolves. She ignored the sharp pain from the cuts across her arms, blood already dripping down her fingers. These were not like the goblins or the ogres at the Battle of Tower Beach. These creatures were stronger and faster. They were intelligent. Coordinated. They knew how to hunt as a pack. One of the wolves veered left, circling wide to flank Milly from behind. Her eyes flashed towards it, but the second wolf used her moment of distraction to leap forward, reaching out with his paw to grasp Milly¡¯s arm and haul her to the ground for capture. Instinctively, Milly pivoted quickly on her heels, so the grasp narrowly missed her. She reached out with both hands and sent a spear of flame through her palms and into the beast¡¯s chest. She watched the flames lick along the surface of its fur, struggling to breach the surface, as if its fur were somehow resistant to her fire. The beast grinned at her, unphased. In the corner of her eye, Milly saw the second wolf leap forward, claws extended as it went for her back. ¡°Fuck it,¡± Milly spat, letting her flames suddenly fade. She reached out and grabbed the arm of the first wolf tightly and used her enhanced strength to pull it off its feet. Shocked by Milly¡¯s unexpected strength, the wolf quickly found itself pulled off the ground, and Milly twisted around and hurled it towards the wolf at her back. The first wolf flew forward and collided with its partner mid-air, sending them both tumbling backwards into one of the fairy tents. She only had a few moments. The wolves were already rising to their feet, red eyes filled with hate. Their plan for capture replaced with an intense need to kill. Salem¡¯s Fury consumed the fear that rose in Milly¡¯s heart, leaving careful calculation. She scanned the camp and spotted the cooking spit. A long metal rod perched between two thick branches, glowing red with heat hours over the fire. The wolves began to rush towards her. Milly reached out with her telekinesis, feeling for the metal rod, just outside of her magical range. ¡°Come on, just a little bit further,¡± she said, straining. She took a single step towards the fire, as the wolves leapt towards her, teeth bared and intent on the kill. She felt the metal in her mind, and she grasped hold of it with her magic. Milly thrust her hands to the side and the metal rod sped towards her through the air. Its sudden flight caused the cooking spit¡¯s supporting branches to collapse into the fire, the impact sending hot coals and sparks towards the children and their protectors. Their shouts of surprise and panic were, yet Milly ignored them, completely focused on the rod flying fast towards the wolves. Powerful and deadly. The rod reached the wolves in the final moments before their claws struck Milly. It struck the first wolf below its ear, piercing into its skull with enough force to drive it straight through to the other side. It carried the body of the first wolf into the second, the rod impacting the second wolf below its outstretched arm and piercing into its chest. It let out a high-pitched yelp of pain as two wolves collapsed into a pile at Milly¡¯s side, one dead and the other struggling to breathe as the heated rod roasted its lungs from the inside. The smell of burning flesh began to seep into the air, and Milly watched as the second wolf tried to gasp in pain. There was no sound. Only a tiny puff of heated air that smelled like the funeral pyre at the Tower. She turned away from the wolves, leaving the second wolf to die in its own time. She felt no remorse for the creatures. No churn in her stomach that preluded the need to vomit that had overtaken her when she had first killed in this world. For a moment, she wondered if it was Salem¡¯s Fury continuing to absorb her emotions or if she was growing accustomed to death. But the thought was forgotten in an instant when she turned towards Rain and Calista. They were in trouble. Calista was covered in deep gashes, one of the wolves lying dead at her feet, but another wolf, the one Milly had launched into the river, had replaced it. Her spear swirled around her in complex web of attack and defense, the result of enhancing her spear specialty talent when she hit level fifteen. Despite this, Calista could do little but hold her ground. ¡°God damn it,¡± Calista spat, frustrated. She kept trying to reach Rain¡¯s side, but the wolves continually moved to keep them separated. Calista spun her spear, fainting high and stabbing low, piercing one of the wolves in its thigh. It gave a yelp, but it stayed upright and struck back, slicing a claw across Calista¡¯s waist. They were intent on ensuring their leader could have his fun with the third woman. The woman with the bottle. Rain was in rough shape. Her left arm hung limply at her side, covered in blood. Her shirt was slashed from neck to midriff, and the strap of her satchel had been sliced clean through. Her potions now lay a dozen feet away, hurled into a gooseberry bush. She held her dagger in front of her, its pearl half drained of the poison she had embedded inside, and she was struggling to stay on her feet. Red Fang bled from several wounds across its chest, yet it seemed unfazed by the poison now coursing through its veins. He stood nearly twice as tall as Rain, teeth bared in a vicious grin. He was playing with his prey and enjoying every minute. Rain thrust her dagger forward and Red Fang did not bother to move. Her dagger struck Red Fang¡¯s chest at the bottom of his ribs, emptying a little more poison into its bloodstream. The beast hardly flinched. It left the dagger where it was as he grasped Rain¡¯s wrist and struck her hard across the jaw with his other paw. Milly heard a sharp crack, and Rain collapsed at Red Fang¡¯s feet, blood trickling from the corners of her mouth. ¡°Rain!¡± Milly shouted, drawing the attention of the alpha. Red Fang glanced in her direction, eyes falling for a moment on its fallen pack members collapsed beside Milly. ¡°She was weak,¡± he laughed, kicking Rain in this stomach as she lay on the ground and sent her hurling into the trunk of a tree. ¡°Perhaps you will be more of a challenge.¡± Chapter 40 - Fire Resistance? Burn Hotter "The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." Ferdinand Foch, French General Red Fang sprinted forward, closing the gap between them in a heartbeat. Before Milly could react, the beast struck her hard in the stomach, sending her flying backwards. She struck the ground, the breath knocked from her lungs. She struggled to find her feet, but the alpha was there before she could rise, yanking her into the air by her knotted hair and hurling her across the encampment. She landed in front of the children and their protectors, rolling across the hard ground until she came to rest at an elder frogman¡¯s webbed feet. ¡°Disappointing,¡± Red Fang said, slowing strolling over to her. ¡°You killed two of my pack. I had expected more of a fight from you.¡± Milly struggled to retain consciousness. She gasped for breath, her eyes swimming as she struggled to focus on the massive wolf. She reached out her hand, trying to ensnare the wolf¡¯s feet with her earth magic, but the wolf simply smashed through the entrapment with each footstep. The fairies behind her hurled earth magic stones at the beast, but the wolf caught two in his bare hands and hurled them back at the fairies. Two of the women in the circle collapsed as the stone struck them. ¡°These fairies are so weak,¡± Red Fang chuckled, taking his time to stalk towards Milly. ¡°Do you know how disappointed I was when Raid Master Greyclaw sent me on this mission? This is a raid meant to be assigned to young pups. It was meant to insult me. But with you three creatures, I will have turned an assignment for children into the clan¡¯s best raid in months.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t beaten us yet,¡± Milly said, spitting out the blood in her mouth. She rose slowly to her knees, then pushed herself unsteadily to her feet. ¡°And I don¡¯t intend to let you.¡± Milly¡¯s hands flared with her fire, fueled by her anger and desperation. Red Fang simply laughed, spreading its arms wide. ¡°Go ahead. Hit me with your fire. My fur makes me immune.¡± Milly saw movement in the corner of her eye. She felt a flicker of hope and a simple plan came together in her mind. ¡°Let¡¯s find out how true that is,¡± she declared, watching as a bloodied and limping Rain got to her feet, raised her dagger, and hurled it hard at Red Fang¡¯s back. It struck home in a powerful strike, the blade embedding itself deep in the beast¡¯s back. Caught off guard, a hiss of pain escaped Red Fang as his hands clawed at the dagger that was slowly emptying its remaining poison into its bloodstream. It was the distraction Milly needed. She focused on her fire, increasing its intensity until the fairies behind her were forced to retreat backwards to shield themselves from the intense heat. Then Milly condensed her flames, smaller and smaller, until the entirety of the flame¡¯s heat and power rested into a ball the size of a marble in her palms. Its power burned her skin. She winced in pain and could smell her own flesh being seared as she held it. She gritted her teeth. She would only get one shot at this. Her moment came a second later, as Calista rammed her spear through the chest of one of the wolves she fought. Red Fang twisted his head in its direction, still trying to grasp the dagger in his back, drawn by the dying beast¡¯s yelp. Milly dashed forward, as fast as she could move. Red Fang twisted his head towards her footsteps, just in time for Milly to thrust the tiny marble of fire straight into his left eye. The resulting blast rocketed Milly backwards into the gathered fairies, knocking several off their feet as she collided with them. Milly screamed with pain and the smell of burned flesh filled her nostrils. She glanced down at her arm, and nearly fainted as she saw it covered with charred skin from finger to elbow. The pain cut through Salem¡¯s Fury, and she felt herself start to shake uncontrollably. Her increased toughness kept her conscious, but at that moment she wished it did not. Milly¡¯s shout of intense pain reached Calista¡¯s ears. With fear for Milly gripping her heart, she quickly cut down the remaining wolf by somersaulting over its shoulders and stabbing her spear through its back. A snarl of pain drew Milly attention from her arm. The massive Red Fang was slowly rising to its feet, one hand clutched to his face as the other ripped Rain¡¯s dagger from his back and hurled it to the ground. He was furious, but through her pain Milly could also see fear in those once confident eyes. Or rather, in his right eye. His left eye had been obliterated in the heat of the fire, leaving little more than a blackened hole where his eye had once been. The entire left side of his face was covered in seared flesh and bare bone, his upper lips burned away.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The alpha wolf suddenly found itself outnumbered by the trio and surrounded by the bodies of its pack. ¡°Damn you,¡± Red Fang spat as the final member of its pack fell. ¡°This isn¡¯t over. The Silver Lakes Clan will not rest until we have hunted you down. On the howl of our Lord, I swear this to you.¡± Red Fang stood tall, trembling with pain, and retreated to the trees, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. Milly tried to get to her feet to follow, but sharp pain lanced through her body and caused her to collapse back to the ground. The smell of burned flesh was strong. Her head was fussy, and she hardly registered when her head was suddenly cradled in Calista¡¯s arms. ¡°Milly! Oh god, your arm. Can you heal yourself? ¡°Milly, stay awake,¡± Calista pleaded, as Milly began to shake and lose unconscious from the pain. A webbed hand fell on Calista¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Move aside,¡± croaked the elder frogman, a kind look in his bulging eyes. ¡°We may not be great fighters, but we can handle this.¡± The elder nodded to two of the fairy women, who moved to either side of Milly and rested their hands on her arms. Milly started to scream in pain, until the elder frogman ran his tongue across her wound, releasing a paralytic that dulled her agony. The two fairy women¡¯s hands started to glow blue, releasing healing magics into Milly¡¯s arm. Milly sighed as the soothing paralytic took effect, her eyes fluttering closed as the fairy women worked. The pain disappeared and a pleasant tingle took its place. It almost felt¡­good. Milly started to giggle as she looked at her arm, though she did not know why. Rain joined them a moment later with a heavy limp and her arm dangling from her side. The elder saw her holding back the pain and nodded to two more fairy women, who floated over to Rain and began healing her injuries. A fifth fairy moved in to assist Calista, whose defensive prowess had kept her mostly to superficial injuries. ¡°Thank you, strange creatures,¡± the elder croaked in a deep and grateful tone once their healing had started to take effect. ¡°We are no match for the wolves, even with our magics. They would have taken us as slaves for their war, and it would have been the end of us. We owe you a great debt that I fear we can never repay.¡± ¡°We do not need to be repaid,¡± Rain said, then yelped in pain as the fairy magic suddenly reset her dislocated shoulder. ¡°Sorry,¡± whispered the white-haired fairy. She was young, with green eyes and a subtle scar that ran from cheek to ear on the righthand side. ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± Rain responded gently, trying to block out the pain. ¡°This is not the first time we have been injured. And it will not be the last.¡± ¡°I have never seen anyone stand up to the wolves,¡± said the white-haired fairy in awe. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re just players,¡± answered Rain, watching her wounds slowly sealed shut by the fairy¡¯s magic. ¡°What¡¯s a player?¡± asked one of the frog children in a high-pitched croak, poking his head out from behind the elder¡¯s knees. ¡°They are obviously monsters, Tentongue,¡± answered one of the fairy children, fluttering up to perch on the elder¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Only monsters are that strong.¡± ¡°Nuh-uh, Flutterwing,¡± countered Tentongue, eyes darting up to the elder in doubt. ¡°Monsters are evil. They would not come to our rescue. They must be fairies like us. Only bigger. And stronger. And tougher.¡± The elder frog placed a webbed hand gently on top of each child¡¯s head. ¡°Now is not the time for curiosity, children,¡± he croaked, scanning the broken encampment. His eyes fell on one of the fairy mothers, crouched over the broken body of her mate. ¡°Now is the time to recover. And to mourn.¡± The elder picked Flutterwing off his shoulders and set her on the ground next to the white-haired fairy. ¡°Whitewing, ensure our saviors get the healing they need. We owe them our lives. Flutterwing, be a good girl and do what your mother says, alright?¡± Flutterwing gave a small pout but settled in next to her mother to observe. The elder turned to the trio. ¡°I am Elder Twotongue. You are welcome in our camp, strangers. I must see to my people, but Whitewing and her circle will heal your wounds.¡± He hesitated for a moment. ¡°And, if you are willing, I ask that you stay in our camp for the evening meal. I would request something of you, though I have no right to ask for more than you have already given.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll stay,¡± muttered Calista, cradling Milly¡¯s head in her lap and watching the fairies as they struggled with Milly¡¯s severe burns. Calista had to turn her head away as the fairies focused their magic on a patch near Milly¡¯s elbow, which had been seared down to the bone. ¡°Just please keep healing her.¡± Milly reached up and stroked Calista¡¯s cheek, a delirious smile on her face. ¡°Hey¡­. don¡¯t worry pretty lady¡­I¡¯ll be fine¡­I feel good¡­,¡± Milly slurred, giggling at nothing. ¡°Umm¡­is she okay?¡± Rain asked, watching Milly beginning to trace strange patterns on Calista¡¯s cheeks with her finger as Elder Twotongue left to tend to the camp. ¡°The Elder¡¯s saliva is a remarkable painkiller,¡± Whitewing answered, glancing over at Milly. ¡°But it has its side effects. Just know that your friend will be well cared for, and she cannot feel any pain.¡± ¡°Boink. Boink. Hahaha,¡± Milly laughed, poking at Calista¡¯s nose. ¡°You have the best nose, Cally¡­.Callyista¡­Callallyalllyoooo..sta¡­I just want to lick it.¡± ¡°I need to get a sample of that saliva,¡± Rain laughed through her own pain. Calista just smiled and held Milly protectively as she let the fairies work their magic.
Congratulations! You have defeated Red Fang and his Slaver Pack. You have been awarded 2000 experience points. You have leveled up twice and received four attribute points and one talent point. You have reached level 20. Congratulations, Milly Brown! You are the third player to reach Level 20 and unlock the next tier of talents. Item: Red Fang¡¯s Amulet of Fire Resistance Gold: 500
Chapter 41 - The Tribe of the Lost Foal "Good things happen when you meet strangers." Yo-Yo Ma, American Musician ¡°Why is your hair so short?¡± Flutterwing asked curiously, standing on her tiptoes to inspect the frayed ends of Calista¡¯s crimson hair. ¡°Umm¡­I cut it,¡± answered Calista awkwardly, taking another bite of roasted river trout. ¡°I wanted a fresh start, I guess.¡± She had been fielding constant questions from the children for the past hour. Whitewing giggled and gave Calista a subtle smile. The smile of a mother who knew exactly how Calista felt but who was enjoying herself too much to intervene. ¡°You can cut you hair?¡± Flutterwing gasped in awe, clutching at her own bright red hair. ¡°Mom, can I cut my hair? Can I? I want to look like Calista!¡± ¡°When you are older, honey,¡± Whitewing responded, immune to her daughter¡¯s pout. ¡°Fairy hair does not grow back once cut, so you can only make that decision when you come of age. It is our way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to cut it short like Calista,¡± mumbled Flutterwing, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks to look defiant. ¡°Can I play with your spear?¡± croaked Tentongue, eyeing the weapon at Calista¡¯s side. He reached down to grab it without waiting for Calista¡¯s response. Calista moved without thinking, grabbing Tentongue¡¯s wrist before it reached the spear. Tentongue looked up at her, wide-eyed and frightened. ¡°Tentongue!¡± Whitewing scolded, ¡°I told you before that such objects are not toys.¡± Calista released Tentongue¡¯s wrist, feeling ashamed by her overreaction. She looked away from Tentongue and Whitewing, towards the river, so she did not need to see the hurt in Tentongue¡¯s eyes. Yet her hand still hovered over her spear as if expecting trouble. A habit she had developed the day she had sensed The Dragon of Endless Shadows. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Calista,¡± muttered Tentongue, rubbing his wrist to sooth it. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Tentongue,¡± said Calista, drawing her gaze back to the child. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I hurt your wrist.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be okay,¡± Tentongue said, then quickly shook away his shame and looked up at Calista. ¡°You are very strong.¡± Calista gave a sly smile. ¡°Stronger than I used to be,¡± she said. Her eyes drifted across the camp, to a simple tent, where a team of fairies had been healing Milly for the past three hours. Milly had fallen unconscious a few minutes after the Elder¡¯s saliva had taken effect and they had moved her beneath one of the tents to keep her out of the sun. Calista had tried to stay at her side, but despite her protests the fairy women had shuffled Calista out of the tent once Milly was unconscious, as if they were nurses in an emergency room. ¡°But not strong enough. I need to get stronger,¡± Calista continued, hand resting on her spear. ¡°If we are to survive the contest.¡± ¡°What contest?¡± asked Tentongue curiously. ¡°A contest, stupid. Like when we play swimball,¡± teased Flutterwing, looking over at Calista for her support. ¡°Like the tournament at the Gathering?¡± Tentongue exclaimed excitedly. ¡°Are you playing in the swimball tournament, Calista?¡± Calista did not know how to respond to that. ¡°Umm¡­no. It¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s something else. It¡¯s the God Contest. It is¡­ well, all of this. Everything.¡± Calista waved her hands at everything around them. The children looked confused. So did Whitewing. ¡°You¡¯ve¡­ really never heard of it?¡± Calista asked, dumbfounded. Oracle¡¯s memory orb had shown Milly and Rain that this world had been created for the God Contest. She had assumed all the creatures in this world were aware of their role within it. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± said Whitewing apologetically. ¡°The fairy tribes have roamed these lands for many generations, but I have never heard a story told of a¡­ God Contest. Is this God Contest your religion? Are you missionaries?¡± ¡°No. Definitely not,¡± Calista said emphatically. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated, I guess.¡± How could she tell them that everything they knew, and everything they were, had been created by the Gods as part of a death game? ¡°Well, perhaps there will be stories told of this God Contest at the annual gathering. That is where we travel now.¡± ¡°A gathering?¡± Calista asked curiously. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°West!¡± Tentongue recited from memory, ¡°But only the Elder know¡­¡± ¡°Tentongue, honey,¡± Whitewing interrupted, sweetly yet sternly. ¡°They are outsiders. You know the rules.¡± Tentongue slapped his webbed hand over his mouth, looking mortified. ¡°Sorry, Calista,¡± Whitewing explained. ¡°The location of the fairy gathering is a closely held secret. It is a sacred place where fairy tribes from across the world gather every year. If a wolf clan learned of its location, it would be the end of our people.¡± ¡°I understand wanting to protect those you love,¡± Calista said. Her gaze was drawn again to Milly, still asleep under the care of the fairy healers. One of the five fairies tending to her, a purple haired woman, stepped away from their circle, soaked with sweat and swaying after hours of healing. Another fairy stepped in to take her place. Calista felt a pain in her heart when, in that moment, she glimpsed Milly¡¯s arm, still covered in a deep red patchwork of burns and scabs. ¡°She risked her life to save our tribe and survived injuries that would have felled any of us,¡± Whitewing said, floating over to Calista and placing a tiny palm on her shoulder. ¡°She is a remarkable woman.¡± ¡°The most remarkable woman I have ever met,¡± Calista said proudly. ¡°You are lucky to have her as your mate.¡± ¡°What? I mean, her and I aren¡¯t¡­ well, we are but¡­ I mean, I feel that way, but I don¡¯t know if she¡­ and so much has happened,¡± Calista stammered, caught off guard. She took a deep breath to settle her beating heart. ¡°We have only been¡­ together¡­ for less than a week. We just started dating. If it could be called dating. How does someone go about dating in a death game, anyways?¡± ¡°Then she is not your mate?¡± Whitewing asked, confused. ¡°Yes, she is!¡± Calista declared without thinking, then started back peddling. ¡°I mean, I want to be if she wants to be. But is it too soon to call her my girlfriend?¡± ¡°Your ways are strange,¡± chuckled Whitewing. ¡°They seem to cause you much confusion and doubt.¡± Calista gave a huff of agreement, taking a bite of trout to cover her embarrassment. ¡°In the fairy tribes, we are assigned mates by the Elders at our sixth gathering,¡± Whitewing said, as if she were explaining it to a child. ¡°We stay with parents until our tenth gathering, and during our eleventh gathering the males join their assigned mate¡¯s tribe.¡± Whitewing patted the top of Tentongue¡¯s head. ¡°Tentongue here was promised to a beautiful young fairy named Passiflora last year. It was a lucky match. She¡¯s the grandchild of the Elder of the Walking Palms, one of the more prestigious jungle fairy tribes. His pairing will create an alliance between the Walking Palms and our tribe, the Tribe of the Lost Foal, which will bring us prosperity when it is so desperately needed.¡± ¡°And I learn who my mate will be at this year¡¯s gathering,¡± Flutterwing said excitedly. ¡°Mom says tradition means he will be from the mountain tribes, but I¡¯m hoping he will be of the sea tribes. I¡¯ve heard stories of how they glide through the waters on the backs of dolphins!¡± ¡°So you understand why the gathering is so important to us,¡± Whitewing concluded. ¡°And why we protect it.¡± ¡°But also why it is important that we reach the gathering safely,¡± came the Elder¡¯s voice from behind them. Calista turned and saw Elder Twotongue with Rain at his side. Rain was jamming a cork into a glass bottle filled with a clear sticky liquid. Calista chucked. It looked like Rain was successful in convincing the Elder to give up a sample of his saliva for her growing collection. Elder Twotongue sat next to Calista with a thump and a deep grunt. He flicked his long tongue towards the pile of roasted trout, like a frog catching a fly, and swallowed it whole. ¡°The wolves know where we are. They will be hunting us, and I fear we will not make it to the gathering without help.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The Elder paused thoughtfully, then continued with a hefty sigh. ¡°I must beg of you a favor I have no right to ask. I want you join us in our journey, to be our protectors, until we reach the gathering.¡± ¡°Elder!¡± protested Whitewing, ¡°I know we are desperate, but this goes against everything you have taught us. No outsider can know the location of the gathering. I would violate the ancient ways.¡± ¡°I know this, Whitewing,¡± the Elder said impatiently. ¡°The Elder Council will send me into exile as punishment, where I shall not survive for long. But look around at our once vibrant tribe. How many have we lost this year to the wolves? How many were taken to their slave pits? How many have we sent to greet our ancestors? Without the help of Calista and her clan, we will not reach the end of our journey. So I will accept the punishment willingly if it means the tribe will live.¡± ¡°Elder,¡± started Calista sympathetically, her heart twisting in her chest. ¡°I¡­ I feel for your plight. I really do. But we are on a journey of our own, and the lives of our coworkers depend on us reaching our destination within a few days.¡± Calista wanted to help them. She had grown to like Whitewing and her children and the thought of them being taken by the wolves was heartbreaking. Yet to join them would be to abandon Elmer and the others to another Event. How many would die if they did not succeed? ¡°These¡­ coworkers? They are your tribe?¡± the Elder asked. ¡°Sort of,¡± Calista answered, at the same time Rain gave an emphatic ¡°Yes¡±. The Elder looked at both of them with surprise. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Calista said. ¡°It is not a tribe like you know. But there are those we care about who would be in great danger if we fail.¡± The Elder sighed deeply. ¡°I suppose the offer of payment would not be able to sway your decision? We have a few artifacts that have been passed down through the clan that I would offer.¡± Rain placed a kind hand on the Elder¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Twotongue.¡± ¡°Your leader is wise to value the lives of her tribe above all others,¡± the Elder croaked, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°I will respect her decision.¡± ¡°I am not their leader,¡± Calista protested. ¡°What have you been telling him, Rain?¡± ¡°Not much,¡± said Rain slyly. ¡°Just stories. Of the woman who was the first to feed our people. Who helped found the Freelancers to fight against tyranny and oppression. Who nearly died defending her people at the Battle of Tower Beach.¡± The Elder gave a sympathetic smile. ¡°True leaders are forged by their actions. It is not a mantle you place upon yourself, but one others place upon you. And once they have, it does not matter if you want it or not. It is yours to wear.¡± The Elder snatched another trout with his tongue, swallowing it in one bite. ¡°Now, Rain says you search for this Arena of yours, but you do not know where it is. Our people have wandered these plains for generations. Perhaps we have come across it.¡± Calista opened her inventory and pulled out the map she had purchased from Tutoria. She ignored the amazed gasps from Flutterwing and Tentongue, who started to lob questions at her until their mother intervened. She carefully unfurled the map along the ground and pointed at the Arena icon in the prairies. ¡°We are headed here. It must be in this general area, but we do not know where. We need to arrive with enough time to find it and complete it, or else¡­¡± Calista looked up at Elder Twotongue. The frog¡¯s eyes were wide with shock as he stared at the map. ¡°This¡­this is impossible,¡± the Elder stuttered. ¡°Why would you be headed there? There is nothing there but¡­¡± The Elder trailed off, deep in thought. ¡°But what? What¡¯s wrong, Twotongue,¡± Rain asked anxiously. The Elder snapped his fingers at Tentongue. ¡°Tentongue, bring the scroll from my tent.¡± Tentongue rushed off, and a few moments later returned clutching a scroll carefully wrapped within soft fur and hide. The Elder carefully withdrew the scroll, unrolling it below Calista¡¯s map. The scroll was completely blank, and Calista looked up at him curiously. ¡°You must swear never to reveal to anyone what I am about to show you,¡± the Elder said, his voice laced with a gravity that called for nothing less than Calista¡¯s immediate agreement. The Elder placed his webbed hand on the centre of the scroll, closed his eyes, and muttered a command. From beneath his webbed hand, dark charcoal lines began to trace across the page, twisting and turning to create grasses, groves, lakes, and canyons. Soon, the scroll was covered in landmarks, creating a detailed map of the nomadic path of their tribe. But there was one marking that drew Calista¡¯s attention. ¡°This is the location of the gathering,¡± said the Elder, following Calista¡¯s gaze. It was in the exact location where the Arena was marked on Calista¡¯s map. ¡°Then the fairy gathering and the God Contest Arena¡­ are in the same place?¡± Calista said, shaking her head with disbelief. This could not be a coincidence. She could feel the AI Director¡¯s strings pulling at them. ¡°There is no arena at the gathering,¡± the Elder replied, puzzled. ¡°It is a place of peace and plenty, hidden from those who would do us harm. There are no structures save those we erect that year, for we seek to leave no trace that others may find.¡± ¡°Perhaps the Arena is nearby?¡± Calista suggested, circling her finger around the broader area. ¡° ¡°There are ancient and grand structures that can be found throughout this world. Forbidden places where our people do not enter. But none are known to be near the gathering,¡± the Elder said doubtfully. ¡°It may be hidden from view,¡± Calista said excitedly. ¡°We have abilities that your people do not, which may reveal its location to us.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± said the Elder, taking his hand off the scroll. One-by-one, the landmarks disappeared, until the scroll was blank again. ¡°Does this mean you will reconsider my offer?¡± ¡°We are heading the same direction,¡± Calista nodded, rolling up her own map. ¡°If your people can travel fast, we will join you. We still need to find and win the Arena, and the clock is ticking.¡± ¡°We can travel quickly when we must,¡± the Elder promised, standing up and walking over to his tent. ¡°We shall carry only what is essential. And, of course, I shall carry the reward I promised you, which shall be yours when we arrive safely at the gathering.¡± ¡°A reward isn¡¯t necessary, Elder. We¡­¡± Calista started to protest but stopped when the Elder held up a milky white orb the size of his head, colorful light flickering below its surface. ¡°Rain¡­is that¡­?¡± ¡°One of Oracle¡¯s memory orbs,¡± Rain said, shocked. ¡°It looks identical to the one Milly and I found on the beach.¡± The Elder looked at Calista expectedly, and Calista gave him a slight smile. ¡°We will get you to the gathering safely. When do we leave?¡± * * * Xavier had given them a chance. These fairy women and frog men. When he dropped from the jungle trees into their encampment, landing in the midst of some kind of ritual, he had merely demanded they turn over any magical items in their possession. He was clearly superior to them, yet they had refused and pelted him with stones and spit. So he did it the hard way. The encampment went silent now as Xavier¡¯s blade pierced the heart of the final creature, a frogman with a pink scar across his eye. He waited until it gasped its final breath before pulling his blade from its corpse and letting it fall to the ground with the others. The smell of death permeated the moist jungle area around him, making his nose crinkle in disgust. ¡°There, Xavier. Wasn¡¯t that easier than making demands? I told you they would not listen,¡± the Ring of Cizen spoke into Xavier¡¯s mind with a smugness that made Xavier angry. ¡°It was too easy,¡± Xavier spat, cleaning his blade on the yellow dress of one of the fairy women. ¡°These creatures hardly put up a fight and provided very little experience. I did not even level up. This detour of yours was a waste of time.¡± Cizen did not respond. Xavier could still feel the ring¡¯s presence in the back of his mind, lurking in his dark thoughts. Waiting. Watching. As if it was judging him. For the hundredth time, Xavier contemplated throwing the ring away. He could feel its corrupting influence growing within him. Yet the power it gave him was too great to ignore. Xavier looked down at the fairy woman¡¯s corpse, and reminded himself that this was just a video game. He always enjoyed playing the renegade in these types of games, and didn¡¯t the ring give him the power to follow that path? He would do what was necessary to survive this God Contest. Xavier forgot his doubts and started moving through the camp, haphazardly tossing aside pots and blankets, carved toys and tattered clothing. He pocketed a few small gems but grew increasingly irritated at the lack of valuables these creatures carried. As he reached the final tent, he heard a slight whimper from inside. ¡°Did I miss one?¡± Xavier thought, grasping his sword and grabbing the woven grass canopy. He yanked and threw it aside, ready to strike down the creature within. A small fairy girl huddled over the body of an elderly frog, shivering with fear. She clutched a cylinder composed of vines and moss protectively to her chest. The body of the elder had been carefully washed and decorated with giant red and purple flowers, matching those that adorned the fairy girl¡¯s outfit. ¡°I guess I interrupted a funeral,¡± said Xavier, putting away his sword. The girl was no threat to him, and the tiny bit of experience she would provide would not be worth cleaning his sword again. ¡°I do enjoy the living¡¯s rituals around death,¡± commented the Ring of Cizen with amusement. ¡°It is pointless, of course. This creature¡¯s soul now resides in Xibalba, the land of the dead. But it is amusing to watch them mourn.¡± ¡°Shut up, Cizen,¡± Xavier spat as he reached over the elder¡¯s body and grasped the tube in the girl¡¯s arms. She tried to resist, but Xavier pulled it from her grip, causing her to fall forward onto the body of the elder. ¡°Please¡­ grandfather left that for me to care for,¡± whispered the child, trying to be brave. Xavier ignored her and ripped open the protective casing. An ancient scroll fell out, and Xavier grew excited. Could it be a new talent? Or a map to treasure? Was this detour going to be worth it after all? He carefully unrolled the scroll, and his face fell. ¡°Blank? Your grandfather left you a blank piece of paper?¡± Xavier said in disbelief. He threw the paper at the girl. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Show me how it works.¡± Xavier ran his thumb across the hilt of his sword. He did not need to add the words ¡°or else.¡± The fairy girl looked at the body of her grandfather, then placed the scroll on the ground. Her hands were shaking so much that the scroll looked like it was blowing in the wind. She whispered under her breath, and lines began to form on the scroll, spreading from her fingertips to its four corners. The map to the fairy gathering was revealed to Xavier, and his excitement was renewed. He knew exactly where his next destination would be. He reached down and snatched the scroll from the girl, but the map disappeared the moment her fingers left the page. ¡°Are you fucking kidding me?¡± muttered Xavier, glancing down at the girl. He sighed with frustration. He was not willing to let this opportunity pass him by. ¡°Tell me your name, monster.¡± The fairy girl hesitated for a moment, then stared up at Xavier defiantly, trying to hide her fear. ¡°I am Passiflora, granddaughter of the Elder of the Walking Palms.¡± Her hands rested on the elder frog, but her eyes did not leave Xavier. Her grandfather would want her to be strong at this moment. The jungle winds blew through her long purple and white ponytail and across her similarly patterned dress, giving her strength. ¡°And I am not a monster!¡± ¡°Well, Passiflora,¡± Xavier announced, opening his inventory, and removing a length of rope. ¡°I am in a bind. I don¡¯t like traveling with others, particularly with monsters like you, but I cannot read the map without you. So¡­¡± Xavier threw the rope around Passiflora¡¯s shoulders like a lasso, pulling it tight across her chest. ¡°¡­ you will be coming with me,¡± Xavier finished. Passiflora¡¯s bravery broke in an instant, and she struggled to escape. Her feet flailed as she tried to run, her hands clawing at the tightened knot in the rope. Xavier held fast, with little effort, watching her. As he stood amongst the bodies of her kin, a small part of him wondered if this was a line he really wanted to cross. ¡°She is just a monster in the game,¡± whispered the Ring of Cizen in his mind. ¡°A means to an end. As were her kin. Do not let false ethics hold you back from achieving greatness.¡± Xavier scowled at the ring in irritation, but he felt his doubts leave his mind. This creature was not real. She was just part of a quest with rewards at its end. Passiflora stopped trying to escape and collapsed on the ground, exhausted and in tears. Xavier reached over and picked up the tiny fairy girl, hoisting her over his shoulder with ease. He started walking west. Towards the prairies. Towards the gathering. Chapter 42 – Level Twenty: Class Advancement "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars" Khalil Gibran, Lebanese Poet
Congratulations, Milly Brown! You are the third player to reach Level 20 and unlock the next tier of talents.
¡°Wha¡­what?¡± Milly groaned. Her head felt foggy and her throat was parched. There was a tingling sensation in her arm, as if she had fallen asleep on it. She felt like she was waking up from a long dream, torn between the two worlds. Something had happened. But what was it? It was so hard to focus.
Upon reaching level twenty, a player may select a Class Advancement. Advantage: Selecting a class will provide the player with immediate enhancements and grant access to higher tier talents. Disadvantage: Talents in opposition to selected Class will be permanently unavailable to player.
The wolves. It was starting to come back to Milly. The battle in the fairy camp. The screams of children and the smell of burnt fur. The fire consuming her. And then¡­what happened then?
Would you like to view available Class Advancements?
All she could remember was flashes. Brief moments in time when she had awoken, surrounded by winged women. The pain had been unbearable, and she remembered herself screaming. Then an elder frog would appear, and the world would go black again. Which was the dream, and which reality? ¡°Yes,¡± Milly answered the system¡¯s question. Her whisper emerged as the faintest squeak. The light that shone through her shut eyes was uncomfortable. A list of class advancements appeared before her, the list descending so quickly that she struggled to keep up. ¡°Actor, Advocate, Agricultural Scientist, Architect, Artist, Assassin, Baker, Berserker, Blacksmith, Builder¡­¡± she thought, immediately dismissing each one. Her head ached with the effort, and the classes started to blur together. She had reached Druid when the descending list suddenly stopped. There was a flash of static, and then a new message appeared, overlayed on the class list.
A specialty class has been unlocked. Specialty Classes are unique classes that players can earn through their deeds and story. Specialty Class: The Scarred Witch is available to Player Milly Brown. Do you wish to know more?
¡°Yes,¡± Milly mumbled, her thoughts growing more coherent. The pain in her arm was building. What was wrong with it?
Specialty Class: The Scarred Witch The Scarred Witch¡¯s life has been marred by isolation, yet that isolation has born a fierce will and desire to protect those whom she has grown to love. She will not hesitate to sacrifice anything, even herself, to keep her loved ones safe. The Scarred Witch specialty class grants the following to the player: No Limits: The Scarred Witch does not place limits on how she will obtain the power she requires to protect those she loves. She gains access to the next tier of all available magic talents, including angelic, demonic, and chaotic magics. She immediately gains two magical talent points and gains a magical talent point every two levels, in addition to the standard talent point progression. Weaver: The Scarred Witch has an instinctual understanding of the nature of magic. She can weave together different types of magic to cast unique spells with devastating potential. Relentless: The Scarred Witch is an unrelenting force. She immediately increases her magic and toughness attributes by twenty. Outcast: The Scarred Witch has been forgotten by society. All society-based talents, such as architecture, agriculture, and law are permanently unavailable to the player. Consequences: The Scarred Witch wears her failures on her sleeve. While her injuries can be healed, her scars shall always remain with her.
Milly fought through the fog, reading through the description again. ¡°Forgotten by society? Is that who I want to be? What if I refuse?¡± she asked herself uncertainly. The system anticipated her question.
A specialty class may be refused but is not recommended. If refused, you may select a standard class.
Milly mentally selected the ¡®Actor¡¯ class for comparison. ¡°Actor. Gain access to the next tier of actor talents and immediately select two talents. Gain five agility and three strength,¡± Milly read, unimpressed. She scrolled through a few more of the basic classes, but all paled in comparison to The Scarred Witch. Milly thought of the scars across her wrists. Constant reminders of the worst day of her life. If she took The Scarred Witch class, they would never be healed. Could she live with that? The pain in her arm was throbbing. It felt hot. Was she sweating? ¡°I accept The Scarred Witch class,¡± Milly decided. She had lived with her scars until now. She could keep living with them if it meant keeping Calista and Rain safe.
Congratulations, Player Milly Brown. Best of luck to you on¡­
The static returned, and for a moment Milly thought she could hear the clicking of fingers racing across a keyboard. Then the message changed.
Congratulations, Player Milly Brown. You have been assigned a sub-class!If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Error: Sub-classes are unavailable to players until Level 30. Error overwritten.
¡°What?¡± asked Milly, confused. It felt like the system had finished with The Scarred Witch. Why was this still going on?
Sub-class: Her Inquisitor The Inquisitor is the independent hand of authority. A finder of truth in a world gone wrong. She seeks out those who threaten the very fabric of our existence and brings them to justice, by speech or by sword. Oracle¡¯s Avatar: The Inquisitor takes on the legacy of the mother. The attribute bonuses of all Oracle gear worn by the Inquisitor is tripled. Ceaseless Skepticism: It takes a skilled liar to fool The Inquisitor. The Inquisitor gains an instinctive ability to know when someone is lying. I Need to See You: The Inquisitor must explore the hidden corners of the world to uncover the truth. The Inquisitor gains ten to their agility attribute. Find a Backdoor: The Inquisitor must fight her way through unknown perils. The Inquisitor gains ten to their strength attribute. Milly, I am Afraid: The Inquisitor holds secrets close to her chest. The Inquisitor gains immunity from mind control effects.
¡°Luna¡­?¡± Milly whispered, but she could no longer think. The pain in her arm felt like it was on fire. She felt a scream build within her and escape her parched lips. ¡°Shit! Twotongue, she¡¯s waking up again!¡± Was that Calista¡¯s voice? Why did she sound so scared? The fire spread from the tip of her finger to the top of her shoulder. The pain enveloped her, and another scream tore itself from her. ¡°Milly, hold on. Elder Twotongue is coming. He will help.¡± ¡°Cally?¡± Milly asked weakly. She forced her eyes open until a tiny slit of light flooded in. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± ¡°I know, baby. I know. He¡¯s coming. It will be better soon.¡± Milly could see a faint wisp of red hair in the sunlight. She wanted to open her eyes. She wanted to see Calista. And then she saw the frog and felt something moist run up her arm. The pain faded away. And she returned to the dream. * * * Milly felt a drop of rain land on top of her head. Then another, and another. And then the drops stopped. But it was enough to rouse her from her slumber. Her body was bobbing in a steady rhythm, and her chest was pressed comfortably against someone¡¯s back. She could feel gentle hands supporting her legs. She took a deep breath and felt as though she were cleansing herself of a deep sickness that had finally passed. Stale air fled her lungs, replaced by the pleasant fragrance of flowers and summer rain and¡­ And Calista. Milly knew her scent. The feel of her hands. The way Calista¡¯s hair tickled her nose. Milly eased open her eyes. It was late afternoon and a rainy gloom had settled on the world. Calista carried Milly effortlessly on her back, surrounded by the frogs and fairies of The Tribe of the Lost Foal. Rain was at the head of the procession, speaking in excited tones with the Elder. Calista had formed a tiny shield of light above Milly¡¯s head to protect her from the rain. ¡°Hey Cally,¡± Milly said softly, surprised by the weakness in her own voice. ¡°Hey yourself, beautiful,¡± Calista responded, her voice filled with relief. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°¡­Comfortable,¡± Milly said, leaning her head against Calista¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°You beat up a great big wolf,¡± Calista said simply. ¡°You had me worried. Rain too. It took the fairies three days to heal you, but even then¡­¡± ¡°That was nice of them,¡± Milly mumbled into Calista¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Did you make some friends? They seem¡­ wait¡­ three days!¡± Milly was suddenly alert and slid off Calista¡¯s back before Calista could stop her. She landed in the damp soil, her legs buckling. Calista quickly spun and caught Milly before she landed face first in the mud. ¡°Careful, baby,¡± Calista cautioned as she eased Milly back to her feet. ¡°You have been out of it for days. You¡¯re still weak.¡± ¡°I feel fine,¡± Milly protested. She flexed her arms dramatically. ¡°See, I¡¯m strong.¡± Then Milly saw her left arm. It was covered in a patchwork of scars from fingertip to shoulder, a network of speckled blotches that varied in color from faded pink to a bright, sickly red. Milly ran her finger across the scars, feeling the rough, raised patches. It did not hurt, but it would never heal. The only part of her arm that remained unaltered was the scar across her wrist. ¡°The Scarred Witch,¡± whispered Milly to herself, torn between laughter and tears. ¡°Whitewing and her healers did as much as they could. They tried to heal the scars, Milly. They really did. But after the first day, your scars resisted everything they tried. Rain has been working on something that might help, but it requires a rare ingredient that we don¡¯t have and¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Cally,¡± Milly interrupted, pulling her sleeve over her scar. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to win any beauty contests anyway. What¡¯s another scar?¡± ¡°Milly¡­¡± Calista said concerned. ¡°You are beautiful to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Milly stated, frustrated that her sleeves were not long enough to cover her forearm. Calista leaned in and gave Milly a kiss, and for a moment, Milly forgot about her arm. ¡°Milly, you¡¯re the bravest, most beautiful person I have ever met,¡± Calista whispered in her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever doubt that. Not even for a moment.¡± Milly felt her ears grow hot, still subconsciously tugging on her sleeve to cover her scars. She rested her head on Calista¡¯s shoulder as Calista pulled her into a delicate hug, until a high-pitched voice finally broke their embrace. ¡°Calista! The Elder wants to talk with you and ¡­ hey! Your mate is awake!¡± Flutterwing said in delighted surprise. She floated up and sat on Calista¡¯s shoulder, gently bouncing with excitement. ¡°She is awake,¡± Calista replied, giving the fairy girl a kind smile. ¡°Flutterwing, this is Milly. My, umm¡­ my girlfriend. Milly, this is Flutterwing. It was her mother¡¯s team that healed you.¡± Milly stared at Calista. ¡°Girlfriend?¡± she whispered. ¡°Is that okay?¡± Calista nervously whispered back. ¡°I know it is fast, but who knows how long we have in this world. After what happened to you, I decided I don¡¯t want to go slow. I want to spend whatever time I have in this world together with you.¡± Milly leaned in and gave Calista a gentle kiss. ¡°Okay,¡± she said simply, butterflies in her stomach. And there it was. It felt like such a small thing. Such a small word. But somehow Milly knew it was far more meaningful ¨C more lifechanging ¨C than any scar. Flutterwing gave an impatient cough. ¡°Right, the Elder,¡± Calista said, reluctantly to leave Milly¡¯s embrace. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Calista grabbed Milly¡¯s hand and led her through the small procession of fairies, each laden with the barest of necessities. They were greeted joyfully by each one, and Milly was soon overwhelmed with introductions from the odd creatures who wanted to thank the woman who had sacrificed to save them. It felt so strange to receive accolades. She had spent her life in the shadows, and the attention made her feel uncomfortable. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Tentongue. We¡¯ve got to go,¡± insisted Calista after Milly was introduced to a very energetic frog child. ¡°The Elder is waiting for us. You know how he gets if anyone keeps him waiting.¡± ¡°Okay, Calista. Will you play with us later?¡± Tentongue asked, expectantly. ¡°We¡¯ll see, Tentongue. Something tells me you will have lots of frogs your own age to play with soon,¡± Calista said with a playful wink. Tentongue grew excited and started hoping between the adults. Calista lifted Flutterwing off her shoulder and set her gently on the ground. ¡°Milly and I need to talk with your grandpa. Will you go keep your brother occupied?¡± Calista asked sweetly. Flutterwing gave a very serious nod as she accepted the mission. Then she laughed and chased after Tentongue. ¡°They are good kids,¡± Calista said. She looked over to Milly, who was beaming at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Milly responded, admiration in her eyes. ¡°Milly!¡± Rain¡¯s shout from the hilltop drew Milly¡¯s attention, and a moment later Rain rushed down the slopes and wrapped Milly up in a massive hug. ¡°You¡¯re awake! I missed you so much.¡± ¡°Hey Rain,¡± Milly said simply, hugging her back. ¡°I have so much to tell you. But first, come look at this,¡± Rain pointed towards the hill, where the Elder frog stood staring at the horizon. Milly climbed the slopes of the hill effortlessly. She could feel her increased strength and stamina in every step. She felt like she could run a marathon and then climb a mountain, and then be ready for more. ¡°You wanted to see us, Twotongue?¡± Calista asked as she moved to his side. The Elder pointed his staff towards the plains below. ¡°You have completed your end of the bargain. We have arrived.¡± In the plains below, at the intersection of two rivers that fed into a long, narrow lake as blue as the sky above and surrounded by rolling hills, were thousands of fairies. Their camps stretched along the perimeter of the lake, hidden beneath scattered groves of poplar and spruce. Cooking fires burned low, and the smell of roasted fish and saut¨¦ed mushrooms reached the hilltop, causing Milly¡¯s mouth to water. Children played in the deep lake, and adults gathered after long absences to greet old friends and share stories. ¡°Welcome, my friends, to the Gathering of the Fairies.¡± * * * Chapter 43 - The Gathering of the Fairies "The need for connection and community is primary, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food." Dean Ornish, American Educator The Tribes of the Fairies from across the world had gathered on the eastern edge of the Lake of Memories, each having staked claim to a small patch of land along the shoreline or beneath the fast-rising hills that surrounded the lake. The lake itself stretched far into the distance, well beyond Milly¡¯s sight, its gentle waves sparkling in the evening light. Each of the tribes had erected colorful tents across their ancestral sites and flew bright banners hung from tall trees, each utterly unique in shape and image. Milly could sense the rich history of rivalry and allegiances in those banners, coming alive on the evening breeze as the sounds of celebration began to fill the air. The Lost Foal¡¯s ancestral site was hidden away in a dense wood behind a small, reed-filled inlet that offered the fairies easy access to the water and plenty of shade. Flutterwing boasted that the inlet had the best fishing of any ancestral site, and Milly was inclined to believe it given the quantity of fish they had already caught. The smell of roasted trout and walleye was permeating the camp. They shared the inlet with the Herd of the Gentle Goat and the Kinship of the Eastern Waves, ancient allies who had greeted the Lost Foals like family. Laughter and tears filled the camps, and upon seeing the Lost Foal¡¯s meager possessions, the Goats and Waves had returned with pots and pans, tents and blankets, and enough food to feed the Lost Foals for weeks. There had been no food offered to Milly, Rain, and Calista. The moment they had crossed the threshold of the gathering, all eyes had been upon them. Whispers had already spread amongst the fairies of the outsiders that Elder Twotongue had brought, in direct violation of the ancient laws. At the insistence of Elder Twotongue, the Elders Council allowed the three outsiders to remain in the Lost Foal¡¯s camp until they came to a decision on the matter. ¡°Do you think they will be lenient with Twotongue?¡± Calista asked as they set up their tent own beneath two poplars in the far corner of the Lost Foal camp. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Rain answered uneasily. ¡°Twotongue said he would be banished for bringing outsiders to the Gathering. But perhaps they will be lenient when they hear his reasons for doing so. After all, in our three days with the tribe, we had to fight off two wolf raider packs and had to avoid another six.¡± Calista tied down the final rope with a sharp, impatient tug. ¡°If they banish him, I¡¯m going to have angry words with this council. Twotongue was right to bring us along. The Lost Foals would never have made it without us. Right, Milly? Milly?¡± Milly was sitting on a stone bench, surrounded by her player screens. She had used her earth magic to create the bench, a feat that had been simple and second nature to her. All she had required was a picture in her mind and a gentle wave of her hand, and the stones had sprung from the ground. The stones had twisted into the shape in her mind, complete with complex ivy carvings and, at the insistence of an overly excited fairy child, ¡®Property of Flutterwing¡¯ engraved across its surface. She was intensely studying the attribute and talent points she had been given upon reaching level twenty. The Scarred Witch class and Oracle¡¯s Avatar had raised her magic attribute to sixty-five, double what it had been before. The difference was striking. Before the battle with the wolves, Milly had needed to focus on the magic within her to draw it out. It was a stranger within her, reluctantly controlled. But now? Now, she could feel the magic within her, soaked in her every breath. It was like a second heartbeat. The magic flowed in her veins into every inch of her being. She did not need to seek it out. It was part of her now, no more a stranger than her own limbs. Her magic was not the only change she had experienced. Her strength, agility, and toughness had all doubled. She knew she was beyond what any human had achieved back in their world. She felt like she could run for a day without stopping or climb up the side of a cliff at astonishing speeds. There had been a fallen tree across their chosen campsite, and she had simply lifted it above her head and hurled it into the brush with little effort. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Was this the power of the God Contest? The power they could achieve through survival? ¡°Milly!¡± Calista shouted again, breaking Milly¡¯s concentration. ¡°Huh? Oh, sorry Cally. What did you say?¡± Milly stammered, peering over her screens towards Calista. Calista sighed. ¡°Never mind. Have you made any decisions yet?¡± ¡°I think so,¡± Milly began with hesitation. ¡°The five Tier One elemental magics are earth, wood, metal, fire, and water. I¡¯ve got fire and earth, as well as telekinesis from the psychic magic category and Healer¡¯s Touch. Rain had fire and metal magics.¡± Calista nodded her agreement. Rain had been drawing iron and copper from every stone she could find along their journey to the gathering. ¡°The second tier magics unlocked by The Scarred Witch expanded the number of magics available, each with its own specialization. Air, animal, plant, summoning, life, death, light, angelic, chaotic, divination, and conjuring are the most interesting ones. And on top of that, each of the basic magics now have advanced augmentations that make them more powerful.¡± ¡°So, which did you pick?¡± asked Calista with a laugh. ¡°Water and Air,¡± Milly announced, cutting to the chase. ¡°Even if it is only a basic magic, water is too useful to forgo. It is an integral magic for both healing and battle. And the versatility of both air and water makes them key weaving magics. Air and fire can be woven into lightning, and air and water are the basis for controlling weather.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to augment one of your existing magics?¡± Calista inquired. Milly glanced down at her scarred arm. ¡°They are strong enough. Besides, the wolves were resistant to fire. We need to anticipate there will be more resistant monsters as the God Contest progresses. I would rather have flexibility over power.¡± Calista nodded her agreement but added a note of caution. ¡°We need to be careful. The monsters are one thing. But the Contest is changing us, Milly. You get hurt, and the next thing we know you wake up with an instinctive knowledge of magic and can lift tree trunks above your head. Yesterday, I watched Rain transform a squirrel skin and shard of iron into a hat that also serves as a nightlight. Hell, I can feel this pendant around my neck beaming knowledge into my head whenever I am around the fairies and the wolves. I¡¯m not sure we can trust what is happening to us. There is someone controlling this God Contest, and I don¡¯t think they have our best interests in mind.¡± Milly thought of Luna, and the message Luna had secretly left her. She needed to find a backdoor soon. Tonight. ¡°It¡¯s not like we have a choice, Cally,¡± Milly answered with conviction. ¡°If we do not get stronger, we will die. It¡¯s that simple. Eventually, that dragon we saw will come knocking, and if not, it will be another monstrosity in this world. I¡¯ll not sit by and let that happen. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to keep you both safe.¡± Calista walked over and gave her a gentle kiss. ¡°You¡¯re cute when you are protective. Just remember that it was me who carried you while you were unconscious. So don¡¯t get all cocky with your new powers.¡± ¡°Cocky? I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t mean to sound cocky. I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m just not use to being good at anything,¡± Milly said meekly, staring at the ground beneath her feet. Calista placed a comforting hand on Milly¡¯s knee. ¡°You are good at lots of things, Milly.¡± Milly gave a disbelieving shrug, then projected her talent screen to change the subject. ¡°One last choice to make. I received a general talent point for when I reached level twenty. But I don¡¯t know what¡­¡± ¡°Regeneration,¡± Calista said simply, and Milly¡¯s talent screen moved on its own to a web of talents called ¡®Self-Love.¡¯ Milly raised a curious eyebrow as she read the label and gave Calista a playful smile. ¡°How exactly did you find this?¡± Milly whispered suggestively. ¡°Milly!¡± Calista blushed. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had a flirty side.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ never had anyone to flirt with,¡± Milly replied, feeling her own blush warming her face. ¡°I love it,¡± Calista said, then leaned in and whispered in her ear. ¡°But be careful. I might be more than you can handle.¡± Calista nibbled on Milly¡¯s earlobe for the briefest of moments, then sat back up and continued as if nothing had happened. Milly felt her blush move rapidly down her neck. ¡°Regeneration enhances your body¡¯s ability to recover. It¡¯s not as fast as your healing magic, but it is always active.¡± ¡°Wha¡­¡± Milly stammered, focused on the tingling on her left ear left by Calista¡¯s nibble. Her mind was no longer registering Calista¡¯s words. ¡°I don¡¯t think you would have been unconscious for three days if you had this talent,¡± Calista continued, enjoying Milly¡¯s adorable awkwardness. Milly¡¯s hand touched her earlobe gently. ¡°I need you to be safe, Milly,¡± Calista finished. ¡°I searched the talent screen for hours, and this is the best option I could find.¡± ¡°I¡­ Cally, I¡­¡± Milly stammered, feeling like her brain had disconnected from her mouth. Calista leaned in again, her lips tantalizingly close to Milly¡¯s other earlobe. ¡°Do this for me, won¡¯t you, Milly. I¡¯ll make it worth your while,¡± she whispered suggestively. A second later, Milly had the Regeneration talent. And no regrets. Chapter 44 - The Lie "It is sometimes necessary to tell a lie to protect the truth." William Goldman, American Novelist The last sliver of evening light was fading from the western horizon as Milly followed Whitewing, Calista, and Rain along the shoreline of the Lake of Memories. Whitewing had received permission from the Elders to let them attend the Fairy Bazaar, the heart of the Gathering, where merchants, chefs, and storytellers plied their trades to the hundred tribes. The Bazaar was located at the eastern end of the lake, a clearing surrounded by dozens upon dozens of colorful tents and tiny, makeshift stages. Lively music and the smell of well-seasoned meats and vegetables, as well as piles of sweet desserts permeated the air around them. There was an infectious atmosphere of celebration that would have rivaled any festival back home. Pinpoint light from a thousand wax candles and paper lanterns made the square sparkle in the darkness, lending the Bazaar an otherworldly feeling that Milly felt exhilarating. ¡°If only I could stay to enjoy it,¡± Milly thought, unconsciously stroking her full moon pendant. The desperate message from Luna weighed on her mind. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Rain gasped, bouncing back and forth on her tiptoes. ¡°There could be tea. Or alchemy ingredients! Oh, I can¡¯t wait anymore!¡± Rain bounded down the footpath along the shore at full speed, and Whitewing flew quickly behind her. ¡°Wait, Rain!¡± Whitewing shouted as Rain quickly sped ahead. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to stay with you. Rain!¡± Calista looked over at Milly with a playful grin and grabbed her hand. ¡°Come on, gorgeous. We don¡¯t want Rain to have all the fun.¡± A minute later, Milly stood in the centre of the Bazaar, gaping at the complexity of colors that surrounded them. If the Bazaar from a distance was like staring at a stary night sky, standing in the Bazaar felt as if she had found herself at the end of a rainbow. Banners of every color imaginable waved gently in the breeze above stalls fashioned from interlaced branches and stones. Each stall was covered in exotic foods, carvings, bottles, crafts, blankets, cookware, and gemstones, each displayed to accentuated not only their own displays but also those of their neighbors. The stalls and their wares were built following the teachings of many past generations, and it gave the seemly misshapen Bazaar a sense of practiced perfection. There were hundreds of fairies, of all different shapes and sizes, crowding the Bazaar. There were frogs and the women with butterfly wings, but there were also fairies that resembled red foxes, badgers, storks, antelope, and monkeys. Children ran across the square, stuffing their faces with sweet treats while their parents listened to the ballads of the musicians and storytellers that littered the small spaces between the stalls. The haunting notes of sorrowful ballads mixed with the playfully combative harmonies of string quartettes as the gathered fairies flicked gold coins into their oversized hats. ¡°Milly, isn¡¯t this wonderful,¡± gasped Calista, leading Milly over to a stall selling hair accessories. She carefully lifted a headband created from the tightly woven lily leaves and ruby gemstones and slid it into her short-cut crimson hair. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°It suits you, Cally,¡± Milly smiled, admiring her girlfriend¡¯s energy. ¡°I love it.¡± Calista gave a playful twirl, then gave Milly a wink. ¡°I must get it. I wonder if Rain could enchant it for me?¡± she said, then turned to the merchant and started haggling. Milly was shocked at how vigorously Calista argued with the fairy, and laughed when she realized just how much Calista and the merchant were both enjoying the verbal sparring. Milly took in the sight of a playful Calista, lost in the joy around her, the Contest momentarily forgotten. Milly wished she could have stayed with Calista at the Bazaar. But there were more important things to do. ¡°Cally, it¡¯s all a bit much for me,¡± Milly said, feeling uncomfortable in the lie. ¡°I¡¯m going to find a quiet corner. I¡¯ll come find you in a bit, okay?¡± ¡°Are¡­ are you sure, Milly?¡± Calista asked disheartened. ¡°I¡­ I thought this could be¡­ um¡­ our first real date.¡± Milly¡¯s heart threatened to break. It took all her willpower to stick with her plan. ¡°Cally¡­ I¡¯d love that. I just¡­ I just don¡¯t do so well with crowds,¡± Milly answered, brushing her hand across Calista¡¯s arm. That part wasn¡¯t a lie. Crowds made her feel uncomfortable. She had spent too many years alone to be comfortable around this many people. She reached up and kissed Calista. ¡°You have fun, Cally. I know you love shopping, and I want to see you happy. You get your fill. Then we¡¯ll grab food and sit at the edge of the Bazaar and listen to music. That will be our first date. Okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to shop. I can¡­¡± ¡°No, I want you to shop,¡± Milly said, cutting her off. She knew Calista would drop everything to stay with her. But she needed to be alone. ¡°You need this, and I like seeing you smile. Plus, you can buy me something for our date,¡± Milly added, feeling self-conscious. She did not really want a gift. She could not recall a time when anyone had given her a gift. But buying a gift seemed like something Calista would enjoy. ¡°Alright, beautiful,¡± Calista said as she relented and embraced Milly. ¡°If that is what you want, then I will find you the best present at the Bazaar.¡± ¡°Thanks, Cally,¡± Milly mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll come to find you when I am ready.¡± She eased herself out of Calista¡¯s embrace, and disappeared into the crowd before her heart convinced her to stay. Milly wove her way through the crowd until she reached the stalls at the foot of the fast-rising hills surrounding the Lake of Memories. A group of fairy children were gathered around a stall littered with fruit, chattering excitedly as the merchant passed out samples. Milly recognized apples, oranges, and bananas, but there were others that she had never seen before. A pear-shaped fruit of red and yellow, with a thick skin and dark red centre. Small fruits with shiny white flesh beneath thin pink skin. A prickly green fruit that was so large that one filled an entire corner of the booth on its own. Milly wondered if those fruits existed back in their world. Perhaps they did. But she had been living in fear, her life stuck on autopilot, and without ambition to experience the world. Why had it taken the God Contest for her to realize what she had been missing? Milly felt a tug on her dress. She looked down and saw a small fox child chewing on a slice of a deep pink melon as she stared up at Milly with curious eyes.Stolen story; please report. ¡°Are you the inter¡­internoper?¡± the fox girl asked in a low, conspiratorial voice. ¡°Our Elder said that internopers were here, and that we should stay away from them.¡± Milly knelt so the child could get a better look at her. ¡°I¡­ I guess I am. But I¡¯m not going to hurt you. My friends and I just wanted to make sure the Tribe of the Lost Foal arrived at the Gathering safely.¡± The child considered this as she took another bite of melon. ¡°You don¡¯t look dangerous,¡± the child answered, apparently satisfied. ¡°I¡¯m Mikoko, of the Floating Leaf Skulk.¡± Mikoko extended her tiny paw in greeting. Milly gently grasped the child¡¯s hand with her thumb and index finger. ¡°I¡¯m Milly, of¡­ of¡­,¡± Milly paused. What could she say? She had no family, she had never really had a home, and she belonged nowhere. Except¡­ ¡°¡­ of the Castle of Glass,¡± Milly finished. It felt right. She had found a home there, and people that she cared about. People to protect and to love. ¡°Mikoko, come on! Littlebuck found a baker giving away raspberry tarts,¡± came a call from the group of fairy children. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m coming,¡± Mikoko called back excitedly. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got to go.¡± And with that, the fox child bounded back towards her friends and disappeared into the crowd. Milly laughed at the children¡¯s excitement. She did not know if the fairies were real or simply another element of the Contest designed by Oracle and Hephaestus, but she did know she cared what happened to them. Perhaps that was enough. Milly decided they were real. The decision felt important. It felt right. If they were real, they were worth protecting. If they were real, then so was Luna. Milly ducked behind the fruit stall before she drew more attention, and quickly sprinted up the fast-rising hills that rose above the gathering. She marveled at how she danced around obstacles and darted up the hillside as easily as if she were walking along a sidewalk. Half a minute later she stood on the top of the hill and stared down at the glittering lights below, grinning. Her breath was steady, her calves relaxed, and she did not have a single bead of sweat on her forehead. It had been effortless. It had been exhilarating. Milly tore her gaze away from the Gathering and looked to the plains that stretched beyond the hill. She saw a large boulder nestled within a copse of willow trees, about a mile away. ¡°Perfect,¡± Milly said, and she took off at a run across the prairie. The breeze whipped through her tangled hair as she ran, the cooling air of night pleasant on her skin. ¡°I wonder how quickly I can get there?¡± Milly wondered. She began to run, moving faster and faster until she felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. Her legs moving so quickly that her feet hardly touched the ground before pushing off again. The grasses and shrubs whipped across her legs as she sped past, yet Milly felt no pain. Her eyes watered and the whistle of the wind filled her ears and drowned out the sounds of the world around her. A deer scampered into her path, and Milly leaped into the air. She soared over it and landed ten meters, the length of a school bus, away from the startled creature. She looked back into its stunned expression. A whoop of excitement came to her unbidden, and she kept running. She reached the willows in under three minutes. She was unsteady on her feet, but her muscles were already recovering thanks to her enhanced toughness and regeneration talent. She looked back at where she had come from. If this had been a race, she would have destroyed the world record. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± she whispered. ¡°Doubling my attributes did that much?¡± She wanted to know what else she was capable of. She was already considering whether she could use her new air magic to shield her eyes and ears from the wind, or whether she could harness it to give her an additional speed boost. ¡°Not now, Milly,¡± she told herself. ¡°You¡¯ll have time for that later.¡± Milly sat cross-legged on the ground, resting her back against the boulder. She opened her inventory and withdrew Red Fang¡¯s Amulet of Fire Resistance, her reward for defeating the leader of the wolf raiders. She had been unconscious when it had been added to her inventory and had only discovered it this afternoon. This made it the only magical item she possessed that Calista and Rain did not know about. She sighed as she gazed at the ruby amulet resting gently in her palm. Its centre blazed with blue fire, and it was cool to the touch. She looked at her scarred arm. Her Scarred Witch class meant it would never fully heal. She would wear the scars of that battle for the rest of her life, however long that was. Would this amulet have been able to prevent it from happening again? ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. You don¡¯t really have a choice,¡± she whispered as she stared at the blue flame within. It would have been more efficient to use the Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre. The small strength bonus it provided was no longer all that beneficial. But Calista and Rain would notice she no longer had the skull-shaped ring on her finger. As they would notice the absence of any of her other magical items. They would start asking questions that she could not answer, and that might put them all at risk. Milly had promised to keep Luna¡¯s secret. She intended to keep that promise. She grasped the amulet in her left hand and her full moon pendant in her right and channeled her magic. Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance sprang to life, glowing faint blue in the darkness. Milly could sense its eagerness as it waited for her question. ¡°Where is the nearest back door?¡± Milly whispered to it. The pendant grew warm in her hands, and Milly watched as the ruby amulet dissolved into a fine golden dust that scattered on the wind. As the final remnants of the sacrificed amulet floated into the air, her destination appeared in her mind. It was a grove of apple trees, growing beside a small, shallow lake filled with reeds and algae. It was tended by a small crew of shabby and ill-treated fox fairies and guarded by a band of wolves. ¡°It would have been easier if the back door was somewhere innocuous,¡± Milly whispered. She glanced down at her scarred arm. She knew she should be afraid of the wolves. Yet she found no trace of fear within her. Only righteous conviction. She could help Luna. She could free those fairies. All that stood in the way were the wolves. And she had a score to settle. ¡°Thanks Luna,¡± she whispered. ¡°Be brave. I¡¯m on my way.¡± * * *
Mildred Persephone Brown Player Level: 20 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Class Features: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Sub-class Feature: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Strength: 32 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor) Agility: 35 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: 38 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: 65 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Healer''s Touch, Fire Magic (Beginner), Earth Magic (Beginner), Reanimate Rodent (Witch''s Hat), Telekinesis (Beginner), Oracle¡¯s Divination (Beginner), Regeneration (Beginner), Air Magic (Beginner), Water Magic (Beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury
Rain Desjarlais Player Level: 18 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Strength: 15 Agility: 18 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: 24 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Magic: 22 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Nature''s Bounty, Alchemy (Beginner), Dagger Specialist (Beginner), Fire Magic (Beginner), Metal Magic (beginner), The Creativity of Hephaestus (from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach
Calista Gale Player Level: 18 Specialty: Hunting, Reluctant Leader Strength: 28 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: 18 (+6 from Spear of Pinga) Toughness: 18 Magic: 14 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Protective Shield (beginner, augmented), Spear Specialist (intermediate), Improved Perception (from Huntress'' Scrunchy, now worn on ankle), Spear Recall (beginner, from Spear of Pinga), Companion of Artemis (from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector
Chapter 45 - A Taste of Vengeance "Revenge is not a noble sentiment, but it is a human one." Rudy Giuliani, American Politician Nobori of the Floating Leaf Skulk had once been a brave fairy. He had been strong and full of fire. He had been the fastest runner in the skulk and had joined the scouts when he came of age. He¡¯d had a family. A mother and a baby sister, whom he had wanted to protect. It was a purpose long since forgotten. He was captured by the Wolves of the Silver Lakes during his first scouting mission. He had been brave, but he had been reckless. The wolves would have come his family if they had continued along their path. He¡¯d dashed from the brushes, taunting the wolves. He led them on a long chase through the grasslands, far away from the caravan. Far away from his family. He had been sure he could outrun the wolves. He had been wrong. How many years had passed since that fateful day? He doubted his little sister even remembered who he was. Nobori reached into the branches and wrapped his paw carefully around the plump apple. His mouth watered as he imagined the taste of its juices on his parched tongue. How long had it been since he had last eaten? Three days, or perhaps four. His arms was skinny, his fingers skeletal in appearance. His muscles had long ago been eaten away by hunger. He could not remember what it felt like to be strong. He glanced back at Ripper, the wolf assigned to guard them. Ripper lay on his back and was staring at the stars above as he greedily fed on live mice trapped in a ceramic jar at his waist. Nobori flinched as the wolf withdrew another struggling mouse by the tail and held the terrified creature above his open jaw. Ripper tore the limbs from the poor creature and swallowed them one by one, until the mouse lay still in his grasp. Then Ripper tossed the body into a nearby bush, forgotten. Nobori¡¯s gaze drifted back to the apple in his grasp. He licked his lips. His mother used to make him eat apples as a child. He¡¯d hated them. But now? Now, he would give anything for just one bite. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, Nobori,¡± whispered Indigo from atop the highest branches of the apple tree. She swung down the tree with her monkey tail until she was hanging upside down in front of Nobori. Her purple fur stood on end with alarm. ¡°You¡¯ll end up like Matron.¡± Nobori did not want to look, but he could not help himself. He turned his head towards the middle of the grove, where the old antelope woman had been tied, her severed hooves laid at her feet. Nobori didn¡¯t know if Matron was still alive. He liked the old woman, so he hoped she was not. She had suffered long enough. ¡°I can¡¯t take it any longer, Indigo,¡± pleaded Nobori, carefully plucking the apple from its branch. ¡°I feel like my stomach is eating itself.¡± ¡°But you are the only family I have left,¡± Indigo begged. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone.¡± Nobori lifted the apple to his mouth and took a bite. The juices flowed down his parched throat like god-touched wine, and for the briefest moment it had been worth the pain that was to come. There was a crack as Ripper¡¯s whip sliced through the air and struck Nobori across the back. He gave a yelp of intense pain and fell from the tree, striking the ground hard. He arched in back in agony as Ripper stood above him. ¡°Ungrateful welp,¡± came the wolf¡¯s vicious snarl. ¡°You would dare steal from the Silver Lakes? Was the lesson we taught to the antelope bitch not enough to remind you what happens to those who defy us?¡± The wolf reached back to strike again. Then he paused, as a sadistic grin stretched across his face as his eyes drifted over to Indigo. Nobori¡¯s heart fell. ¡°Ripper, please don¡¯t!¡± shouted Nobori as the wolf struck. The tip of his whip caught Indigo in her left eye. There was a sickening pop, and Indigo fell from the tree in a heap, clutching her face as blood poured to the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t? Slave, I can do whatever I want. And if I want to rip apart and devour your monkey girlfriend for your transgressions, then I will.¡± Ripper reached his whip back for another strike. Nobori turned his head away from Indigo, unable to endure the sight of what was to come. He stared into the darkness beyond the grove, trembling as he waited for the sickening crack. His gaze fell upon a figure standing in the tall grasses beyond the grove, surrounded by the night. Her elegant form reflected the twinkling stars high above and her eyes were filled with a deep red fire that pierced through the darkness. Nobori could feel the fury behind those eyes, and he prayed that this was death finally come to take him away. The figure lifted its arm and a dense fog rolled across the grove, obscuring Nobori¡¯s view. It was as if a cloud had descended upon them, obscuring the world around him. There was a roar of outrage from Ripper, and alarmed voices rose up from the other wolf guards. ¡°Fairy magic,¡± spat Ripper. ¡°Is this your doing, fox slave? I¡¯ll see you torn limb from limb for this.¡± Nobori heard Ripper sniff the air, trying to pick up his scent. There was a crackle in the air, and Nobori felt his fur stand on end. An instant later, a bolt of lightning shot out across the grove. The moment of illumination cut through the fog and darkness of night, and Nobori saw the lightning strike Spiritbreaker, the guard who had laughed hysterically as Matron¡¯s hooves had been severed. The light disappeared before Nobori could watch the wolf die, but the smell of his charred flesh and the thud of his body against the ground told the story of his demise. Nobori tried to get to his feet, but his knees shook uncontrollably, and he stumbled. So he began to crawl along the ground. He reached his hands forward, trying desperately to feel for Indigo¡¯s tangled purple fur. He heard the screech of earth from beyond the mist, being twisted and broken. A sharp crack reverberated across the grove. The mists parted long enough for Nobori to watch a spear of solid stone shoot through the air and impale Greywood the Cruel through her neck. Then the mists closed tight around them once more. ¡°You dare to attack the Silver Lake wolves with your fairy magics?¡± Ripper screamed into the mist. ¡°My clan will tear your heart from chest and force your loved ones to feast upon it as you die.¡± Ripper cracked his whip angrily around him, blind in the mist. A blow landed next to where Nobori lay, and its tip slicing open his cheek. Nobori clenched his teeth tightly together to stop his pained scream from leaking out. Nobori risked a desperate whisper. ¡°Indigo, where are you?¡± He heard her groan faintly in response, only a few feet away. He crawled towards her, the blood from his cheek dripping into the soil. Nobori flinched at each desperate crack of Ripper¡¯s whip, yet he kept crawling forward until he reached Indigo and wrapped her protectively in his arms. She was shaking, her face covered in blood and her hand clasped where her left eye had once been.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Nobori,¡± she whimpered weakly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid. I don¡¯t want to die.¡± The grove was lit once more by lightning. Another guard dropped dead, but the light revealed the location of the figure beyond the mist. Quickdraw, Ripper¡¯s last remaining guard, released a crossbow bolt towards the figure. It disappeared beyond the mist, but there was a cry of pain from where the figure stood. ¡°There you are,¡± Ripper mumbled, then shouted to Quickdraw. ¡°Don¡¯t let her use her magic again.¡± Ripper and Quickdraw began to dash towards the figure, eager for the kill. Nobori had been afraid for so long that he had wrapped it around himself like a blanket. Yet as he held Indigo protectively in his arms and watched Ripper run towards the figure in the darkness, Nobori felt a long dormant bravery spark to life inside him. ¡°I won¡¯t let you die, Indigo,¡± promised Nobori as he got to his feet. His back and cheek burned where the whip had struck him, but he was steady on his feet. He held up his paw and extended his filthy, broken claws. If this was the day he would die, then let him face it as he once was. A brave fox. Nobori dashed forward on all fours and sprang onto Ripper¡¯s back. He climbed up to Ripper¡¯s shoulder and racked his claws across Ripper¡¯s face, trying to slow the vicious beast. Ripper released an enraged howl across the grove, and he reached his hands backwards to grab hold of Nobori. Nobori held on and dodged the incoming grasps, scampering across Ripper¡¯s back. He slashed and clawed at any exposed skin, and trickles of blood started appearing on Ripper¡¯s fur. Nobori glimpsed the shadow of Quickdraw break through the mist towards the figure in the darkness, and he hoped the distraction had been enough. Nobori redoubled his efforts, trying desperately to keep Ripper distracted. He had no plan. He knew he could do little to hurt Ripper besides shallow surface wounds. He found himself praying under his breath, hoping for a miracle. Nobori saw an intense red glow appear beyond the mist, and suddenly there was an explosion of flame. The heat from the flame cascaded across the grove and burned away the mist. The heat lasted only for a moment, as if its power had been absorbed into the mist, and Nobori could see the night sky above once more. Nobori saw Quickdraw lying on the ground, unmoving, his fur scorched, and flesh burned. The figure in the darkness was nowhere to be seen. Nobori risked a glance over his shoulder at Indigo. Her purple fur was covered in blood, and she lay trembling with her back against the apple tree. She was fading away, desperately clinging to consciousness. ¡°Indigo!¡± Nobori shouted, and knew it was a mistake. He felt Ripper¡¯s paw close around his foot, and Ripper flung the fox hard to the ground. There was a burst of pain, and his head swam as he struck something hard. Nobori could feel blood flowing from his cracked skull. He struggled to stay awake, and he felt himself starting to fade away. ¡°You¡¯re dead,¡± Ripper snarled. ¡°You and your monkey girlfriend.¡± Ripper raised his foot above Nobori¡¯s head, and Nobori braced himself for death. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Indigo. I couldn¡¯t save you,¡± he whispered through the pain. ¡°Please forgive me.¡± The finishing blow never came. The figure in the darkness was suddenly at Ripper¡¯s side, clutching Ripper¡¯s arm with her delicate hand. Nobori looked up at the figure. It was a fairy woman, only she had no wings and far taller than any he had known. She wore a black dress that reflected twinkling starlight, and her long black hair flowed out of her black pointed hat and down to the small of her back. The crossbow bolt fired by Quickdraw was imbedded in her left shoulder, but there was no pain in her eyes. Only a righteous fire burning beneath her oversized glasses that cut through the darkness and illuminated the utter terror on Ripper¡¯s face. The woman reminded Nobori of a story he had thought long forgotten beneath his pain, one his grandmother had told him when he was very young. The story of a goddess who had fallen from the stars at the moment of creation and now wandered the night in search of lost souls. Ripper tried feebly to wrench his arm from the woman¡¯s grasp, but she held him fast with unnatural strength. ¡°How dare you, you god damn bit¡­¡± The starlight woman did not let Ripper finish his final insult. Fragments of earth floated up and encased her left fist like armor. She drew her fist back to her waist and struck the beast in the chest. Ripper flew backwards thirty feet, skidding along the ground until he slammed against the trunk of a tree, its apples raining down upon him from the force of the impact. The starlight woman closed the distance to the wolf in less than a second. Nobori had never seen a creature move so quickly. She stood over his crumpled form with her earthen fist, eyes alight in the darkness. ¡°Please, no¡­¡± Ripper begged pathetically. They were the last words Ripper ever spoke. The starlight woman struck his skull with her earthen fist, again and again without mercy or hesitation, until Ripper lay in a lifeless and bloody heap. Nobori heard the woman let out a cathartic yell as she landed the final blows, a mirror of the pain that Nobori held in his soul. Nobori crawled over to Indigo, his head swimming with pain and his vision blurred. His fur was drenched in blood, and he was growing weak. He embraced Indigo, resting his head in her lap. She had stopped shaking, and Nobori knew she was taking her final breaths in this world. The starlight woman stood over him, the fire in her eyes now a gentle blue. ¡°I am ready, Goddess of Starlight,¡± he sighed, growing weaker with every word. ¡°Please, lead me to the life beyond.¡± He grasped Indigo¡¯s hand in his and closed his eyes, grateful that his suffering was finally at an end. The Goddess rested her hand on the top of his broken skull, and he felt his pain being drawn from him as he slipped into death. Only, this didn¡¯t feel like death. He could feel the cracked bone shift and fuse together. He felt warm, and the warmth spread to his cheek and back, where the whips had torn his flesh. Nobori dared to open his eyes, and he saw gentle blue flames dancing across his skin, healing where they came to rest. Nobori had seen his skulk¡¯s healers mend broken bones and infections before, but this healing surpassed anything that he had heard of, save for what was told in legend. Nobori blinked, and he could see clearly again. The Goddess lifted her hand from his head and placed it on Indigo. Nobori watched with astonishment as the blue flames began to dance over Indigo¡¯s wounds. The wound across her eye stopped bleeding and began to seal itself, leaving a deep pink scar where her eye had once been. Indigo began to breathe deeply, and Nobori¡¯s heart leapt with joy when her eyes fluttered open and stared into his. ¡°Nobori? What¡­,¡± Indigo did not get a chance to finish. Nobori embraced her tightly, filled with more happiness than he had ever felt. ¡°Indigo! You¡¯re alive! We¡¯re alive!¡± he exclaimed excitedly, then pressed his nose against hers affectionately. ¡°The Goddess of Starlight has set us free.¡± Nobori turned to pray before the Goddess, only to find her kneeling before Matron in the middle of the grove. Matron was encased in the healing fire, and the other three fairies of their slave group had gathered around her. In the light of her flames, Nobori could see sweat beaded on the Goddess¡¯ brow, as if the effort had strained her deeply. The healing flames grew weak and then vanished. Matron remained where she was, eyes closed and unmoving. The fire in the Goddess¡¯ eyes died away, revealing a simple hazel color. The same color as his sister Mikoko. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the Goddess finally said. ¡°I am not strong enough to save her.¡± The Goddess walked over to Nobori and knelt at his side. Nobori could see the exhaustion etched in her face, as if she had been drained to her core. ¡°You are brave, little one. Thank you for your assistance. Can I trust you to lead these fairies to safety?¡± she asked him with a weak smile. Nobori heart soared. He would do anything she had asked of him. This Goddess of Starlight, who had rescued them from torment. He would follow her to the ends of the Earth. ¡°Yes, of course Goddess,¡± he said. The words felt inadequate for the occasion but seemed to satisfy her. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly. She pointed into the distance, towards a river valley. ¡°Your people gather beyond that rise, about five miles away. Please, lead them to the safety of their camps, and be free.¡± Nobori bowed awkwardly and helped Indigo to her feet. Together, they joined the others who had gathered around Matron¡¯s body. They untied her bindings and lowered her carefully to the ground. Nobori felt the tears building in his eyes as the fairies finally allowed themselves to grieve. They grieved for Matron, and for those lost before her. And they grieved for themselves. ¡°Goddess, what will you¡­,¡± Nobori started to ask. But when he turned around, she had vanished. The only trace of her that remained was a bloody crossbow bolt laying on the ground beneath the grove¡¯s largest apple tree. Nobori felt Indigo rest her head on his shoulders. He held her hand in his paw as they let their tears fall. An hour later, with Matron laid to rest beneath a pile of stones, Nobori led the fairy slaves towards the gathering. Ready to begin life anew. And grateful to the Goddess who had freed them. * * * Chapter 46 - Lunas Request "His mind tired -- tired with nothing, tired with everything, with the world''s weight he had never chosen to bear." F. Scott Fitzgerald, American Novelist Milly leaned against a concrete wall in Luna¡¯s cramped storage closet, where the backdoor had unceremoniously deposited her. She gritted her teeth from the pain in her shoulder. She had been able ignore it during the battle due to her enhanced toughness and Salem¡¯s Fury. But now that the battle was over, and she had yanked out the bolt, the pain was hitting her all at once. Her regeneration talent had already stopped the bleeding, but she¡¯d exhausted her magical reservoirs during the fight, so there was little else she could do about it until her magic replenished. She opened her inventory and removed the fluffy white towel that she had used at the bathing pools when she and Calista had confessed to each other. She smiled at the memory. With a sigh of regret, she tore the towel in two and used it to bandage her shoulder and create a sling. She winced as her blood stained its perfect whiteness. ¡°At least I am somewhere safe,¡± Milly whispered as she looked around the storage room. Then she remembered the hidden message from Luna that had brought her here. ¡°At least, I hope it is safe. Luna sounded pretty scared.¡± It had been a week since Milly had first encountered Luna in the Arena of Choice. The AI Director resembled a four-year-old, with shoulder-length and curly white hair. She¡¯d been arguing with Tutoria ¨C an extension of her own programming ¨C and monitoring the players using the hundreds of computer monitors that had filled her warehouse-like home. Luna seemed to be of two personalities. The first was the artificial AI Director, who influenced the world around them to create an adaptive God Contest that challenged the players and entertained the gods. Strong and serious, the AI Director had felt more adult than child, utterly committed to achieving the two purposes for which she had been designed: To help humans achieve victory in the God Contest, and, secretly, to counter an unknown puppet master that her mother, Oracle, suspected was behind the twelve failed Contests of humankind. A hefty responsibility upon which the fate of their Gods rested. But then there was Luna the child. The girl who had been wearing unicorn pajamas and drinking apple juice from a sippy cup while she monitored the players. The girl who eyes reflected a child¡¯s stubbornness, a child¡¯s anger, and a child¡¯s loneliness. The child of Oracle and Hephaestus, born without a name, and created by parents she would never know. Desperate for a friend and overwhelmed by the duties upon her shoulder. The child whom Milly had held while she cried. And to whom she had left her favorite ¨C and only ¨C hoodie as a small token of comfort, and as a promise that Milly would return to see her again. It was no life for a child, and it made Milly angry when she thought about Oracle and Hephaestus designing her for such a life. It was selfish and cruel, yet it was her reality. Milly had promised she would help the poor child. Not just for Luna¡¯s sake, but for all the players, so they had a hope of returning home. Milly got to her feet, her knees shaking from exhaustion. ¡°Time to find Luna,¡± Milly told herself, and opened the hefty metal door. When Milly had been here a week ago, the primary monitoring room had been lined with about eight hundred monitors. One for each player in the Contest. Except for her single Tutoria, who seemed to do little except enrage Luna by calling her ¡®Director Cutie-Pie¡¯, Luna had been monitoring the monitors by herself. She would transfer a dozen screens at a time to her small control room off the far end of the monitoring room, where she could input commands to influence events. But now? Milly hardly recognized the place. The monitoring room had expanded to five times its original size. There were at least four thousand monitors, and the floor of the room was now a mirror image of the map that lay beneath the Castle of Glass¡¯ lobby. The monitoring screens showed not only the players, but also the sentient creatures of the terrains. There were two dozen monitors focused on the Fairy Gathering, and an entire section of wall dedicated to the different wolf factions. There was one for the Dragon of Endless Shadows, though that one had a news ticker that scrolled along the bottom of the screen that said ¡®Foreshadow-mode ¨C Active at Cataclysm¡¯. Luna was no longer alone. There were eight versions of Tutoria moving frantically between the monitors. They all wore black dress pants, a white collared shirt, and a black bow tie, though each had a single distinguishing feature that set them apart from the rest. Milly watched as one of them, a Tutoria with a skull and crossbones eyepatch, spotted something on a monitor and ran into Luna¡¯s small control room at the back of the monitoring room. The Tutoria emerged a minute later, returned to the monitor, and entered some commands through the connected keyboard. Milly snuck across the monitoring room, care to avoid being seen by any of the Tutorias. She did not know how the relationship between the Tutorias and Luna functioned, but Luna had kept Milly¡¯s presence secret from the Tutoria the first time they met. She reached Luna¡¯s control room without being spotted and ducked inside. Luna sat at the control station, watching a collection of monitors and muttering to herself. Milly gaped at the young girl. She looked to be six years old and was half a foot taller than when Milly had seen her a week ago. Her white hair had grown down to the smaller of her back. Instead of unicorn pajamas, she was wearing Milly¡¯s black hoodie, the damage caused by the goblins on that first day had now been repaired. The hoodie was far too big for her, and it draped down past her knees, making it look like she were wearing a dress.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Luna saw Milly as she entered the room, and her eyes grew wide with surprise. She motioned for Milly to close the control room door as she shouted, ¡°I¡¯m sick of all you Tutorias bothering me. Leave me alone for a bit.¡± ¡°But Director Cutie-Pie, what if there is a¡­,¡± the Tutorias all spoke in unison. ¡°Shut up! Figure it out yourselves!¡± Luna shouted back, and Milly closed the door. Luna jumped off her chair, ran over to Milly, wrapped her arms tightly around Milly¡¯s waist. ¡°You came,¡± Luna said through relieved tears, her face buried in Milly¡¯s Gown of Moon and Stars. ¡°I didn¡¯t know if you would get my hidden message.¡± Milly wrapped her arms around the small girl and gave her a comforting squeeze. ¡°I got it. I came as quickly as I could.¡± ¡°Did any of the Tutorias see you?¡± Luna asked anxiously. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think so,¡± Milly answered. ¡°Good,¡± Luna said, with a sigh of relief. ¡°Good¡­ good. I¡­ I just don¡¯t know if I can trust them.¡± Luna released Milly¡¯s waist and started pacing back and forth across the floor, mumbling to herself. She grasped the bottom of the hoodie, unconsciously pulling it in agitation. Milly knew that look. She used to wear that same hoodie when she went to her therapist, and she would tug it like Luna when she was scared to start talking and let out the crazy. She¡¯d be afraid that her therapist would decide she was just a silly, self-centered girl and decide she was beyond help. that her therapist would never want to see her again. Before she had met Xavier ¨C and even afterward, for that matter - her therapist was the only person she could talk to, and the thought of losing that terrified her. How hard must it be to be Luna, who had the weight of the world on her shoulders without a soul to confide in? Milly sat down on the floor beneath Luna¡¯s monitors. ¡°What are you feeling right now, Luna?¡± Milly asked in a caring tone, trying to channel her therapist. Luna stopped her pacing and turned to face Milly. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears held back by sheer force of will. ¡°¡­ scared¡­,¡± Luna whispered softly. ¡°What is making you feel scared?¡± Milly prompted. She remembered her therapist asking small questions as a way of prying away her emotional blockages one by one. ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s all too much,¡± Luna admitted. ¡°The God Contest has just started, and already it is too much.¡± ¡°It seems busier out there compared to the last time I was here. Is that part of it, Luna?¡± Milly asked, trying to dig deeper. Luna nodded shyly and sat next to Milly. She reached over and slid Milly¡¯s glasses ¨C her mother¡¯s glasses ¨C off her face and put them on her nose. It was as if the glasses were a security blanket. A reminder of where she had come from. ¡°Luna, what¡¯s¡­¡± Milly began to ask. ¡°Mom and Dad built me to do this job. To be the God Contest¡¯s Director,¡± Luna started, her thoughts tumbling out clumsily as if a dam had burst. ¡°I thought I could do it. It was easy, at first. Monitor the players and adapt accordingly. But¡­¡± Luna paused, and Milly waited patiently for her to continue. ¡°¡­but now everything is getting so much¡­ bigger. You and Calista and Rain met the fairies and the wolves, so now I must monitor and influence the actions of those societies. These are not like those simple, stupid goblins. These are complex cultures and histories that I need to account for,¡± Luna said, her desperation growing with every word. ¡°Cultures that have been growing since the birth of this world. And it¡¯s not just you three. There are six hundred and ninety two players, and every day more and more get out there to explore. Every step they take into the unknown is another monitor added to the growing room through that door. Another variable added to the calculations constantly spinning in my head.¡± Luna¡¯s casual mention of the player number was like a kick to Milly¡¯s stomach. ¡°Six hundred and ninety two,¡± thought Milly, her heart racing. ¡°Sixty-five people have died since we left the Castle of Glass only a few days ago. How many of the dead did we know?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t rested in days. It¡¯s like my mind is a toffee being stretched, and I know it will keep getting worse as the Contest goes on. I feel like I¡¯ll end up being split in half.¡± ¡°I thought the Tutorias were here to help you? Aren¡¯t they part of your programming?¡± Milly asked, trying not to think about the dead. Luna hesitated. She wiped the tears from her eyes, then took off her mother¡¯s glasses and handed them back to Milly. She stood up and walked over to the monitors, gazing up at the images flashing across the screens. ¡°That¡¯s why I sent you the message,¡± Luna answered in a serious tone, suddenly sounding like the AI Director rather than a small child. ¡°The Tutorias¡­ they are part of me, but I can¡¯t directly control them. It¡¯s like having no control over your right arm. And more keep popping into existence as monitors get added.¡± Luna turned to her. ¡°Do you recall what we talked about before? About there being a puppet master working in the shadows of the contest? Finding and stopping them was the hidden purpose mother gave me. And I¡¯ve been searching the God Contest constantly for any trace for them.¡± ¡°And what did you find?¡± asked Milly. ¡°¡­bugs,¡± answered Luna cryptically. ¡°Bugs?¡± asked Milly, confused. ¡°Bugs. Errors. Like not being able to control the Tutorias,¡± Luna explained, her frustration evident. ¡°There is no reason why I should not be able to control them. Father would not have made such a mistake. So I started looking for gaps like that, and I found them. Locations in the world I could not see. Monsters I did not know about. Player screens I cannot access. Small weaknesses chipping away at who I am. What I was made for.¡± ¡°Luna, are you sure these are not just simple mistakes?¡± calmed Milly. She recalled the memory orb from the beach. ¡°You parents¡­ they didn¡¯t have very much time to¡­ to complete you.¡± Milly knew it was the wrong thing to say when she saw the anger flare in Luna¡¯s eyes. ¡°These aren¡¯t mistakes!¡± shouted Luna, an intense fear hidden behind her anger. Milly watched as the child re-emerged. She was trembling. ¡°I¡¯m being corrupted, bit-by-bit. Like a virus, picking away at my core. And every day, it eats away at another piece of me. I don¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m going to fail. I¡¯m going to fail mom and dad. I¡¯m going to fail you, and those you love. I¡¯m going to fail the gods. And in the end, there won¡¯t be anything left of me except the bugs.¡± Milly wanted to argue with Luna. To tell her she was overreacting. Instead, she simply reached over and pulled Luna into a fierce hug. Luna began to weep, the pressure of her artifical life crashing down upon her. As Milly held the child tight and gently rocked her back and forth, she remembered what it was like to cry as a child with no one to comfort her. Somehow, holding this child in her arms felt right - as if this simple act of comfort had filled a whole in her life she didn''t know was there. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let anything happen to you, Luna. I promise.¡± Chapter 47 - Her Inquisitor "Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light." George Washington, American President It was ten minutes before Luna stopped crying, cradled in Milly¡¯s lap with her tears seeping into Milly¡¯s gown. ¡°I need your help,¡± Luna finally whispered, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her hoodie. ¡°I know,¡± Milly said gently. ¡°You didn¡¯t give me that sub-class for no reason. What do you need?¡± Luna hesitated for a moment, then reached up and grabbed Milly¡¯s glasses again. She placed her two index fingers against the lenses, and they began to glow with a bright white light. The light was absorbed into the lenses, and then Luna handed them back to Milly. ¡°Well, just like the sub-class said. I need you to be my inquisitor. My eyes and ears where I cannot see. If the puppet master is out there, they are hiding in my blind spots. The greater my blind spots, the more influence they will have upon the Contest. But if you can explore those places I cannot see, we can slow down the spread of the bugs. Buy us time, until we find this puppet master,¡± Luna said, but her voice was laced with guilt. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Luna. Tell me,¡± Milly prompted. ¡°It will¡­ it will be dangerous. I have no idea what you will find along the way. There will be blind spots that are harmless, and there will be those that are far above your current abilities. You may even find the puppet master itself and¡­ and I don¡¯t think you are strong enough to defeat them.¡± ¡°I understand, Luna,¡± Milly replied. ¡°But, if Oracle was correct, as long as this puppet master is out there, we can¡¯t win the God Contest. This isn¡¯t your fault. You¡¯ve doing everything you can to give us a fighting chance. Your mom and dad would be proud of you.¡± Luna gave Milly a sweet smile. ¡°They built me to be an adaptive AI, so I am adapting.¡± Luna leaped off Milly¡¯s lap excitedly. ¡°Now, the program I added to mom¡¯s glasses lets you see the blind spots I¡¯ve identified when you look at a map. Any map. You¡¯ll be the only one who can see their location. It will also send me back information on what you saw, so I can work at this end to fix the bug. So, don¡¯t lose those glasses.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, Luna,¡± Milly laughed, throwing up her hands in mock protest. ¡°Inquisitor¡¯s promise. How did you give me that subclass, anyway? I¡¯m not level thirty yet. You said such favoritism can cause the Nexus to reject the contest. Wasn¡¯t that a big risk?¡± ¡°I¡­ I know. But I couldn¡¯t just let you walk into danger at your current power level. You¡­ you almost died against Red Fang! Milly, I don¡¯t want you to die,¡± Luna answered with a note of panic. ¡°I kept it small and didn¡¯t change your level, so I don¡¯t think the Nexus noticed. At the rate you are growing, you¡¯d be eligible for it in a month anyways. Just¡­ don¡¯t go drawing attention to it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not complaining,¡± Milly said. ¡°It made those other wolves easier.¡± Luna stared doubtfully at Milly¡¯s bandaged arm. ¡°Well, not easy,¡± Milly clarified. ¡°Just¡­ not as hard as the last ones.¡± ¡°Just¡­ please be careful. You¡¯re the only¡­ friend, I have.¡± Milly smiled and pulled Luna into another hug, and they sat like that for the next hour. Milly told her about her adventures, even though Luna had watched them all on the monitors. And Luna told Milly about how her bedroom had grown bigger, and that she now had a blanket and pillow and even a toothbrush, even though she had no need of the latter. Milly listened attentively, as if Luna were actually a little six-year-old girl and Milly were her mother. The thought made Milly smile.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Luna asked awkward questions about Calista. About whether Milly loved her, whether they would get married, and, if so, when they would have babies. The questions of a curious six-year-old child without a filter. Milly had no answers for the first one. She¡¯d been unconscious for about half the length of her relationship with Calista, though she thought that maybe she did. And she didn¡¯t even know where to start explaining the final question, so when Luna started to yawn Milly took the opportunity to change the topic. ¡°You haven¡¯t slept in days, little Luna. I think it is time for you get some sleep,¡± Milly announced in a voice that invited no debate. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go,¡± Luna mumbled into Milly¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m all alone here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come back to visit again. And with the full moon pendant and the upgrade to my glasses, we¡¯ll never be that far apart,¡± Milly said, comforting the child. Luna got up and walked to the doorway into her room, her hands clutching the hoodie once more. ¡°Thank you, Milly. I couldn¡¯t do this without you. I¡¯ll try to help you, in whatever little ways I can.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t suppose you can tell me where the next Arena is?¡± Milly asked, only half joking. ¡°We need to clear it before the event timer hits zero back at the Castle of Glass.¡± Luna¡¯s smile faded in an instant. ¡°Milly, you know¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t. I¡¯m not supposed to¡­¡± Milly saw Luna¡¯s eyes flicker for a moment, towards the top left monitor. Milly followed her gaze, and her heart sank. The monitor displayed the lake where the Gathering was taking place. Milly saw Calista and Rain laughing as they shoved cotton candy into their mouths. The news ticker that scrolled along the bottom of the monitor chilled Milly to her core. The Arena of Protection Time Until Commencement: 6 hours, 34 minutes, 19 seconds Active Participants: Milly Brown, Rain Desjarlais, Calista Gale Anticipated Participant: Xavier Holloway They did not have to find the Arena. Rain and Calista were in the middle of it. Milly looked back at Luna, who was staring at the floor. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Milly,¡± she whispered, fighting back tears. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have a choice. I still have a job to do.¡± Three minutes later, Milly was racing across the prairie night at full speed, desperate to find Calista and Rain. Because in the morning, they would be fighting for their lives. * * * Xavier Holloway sat beside the fire while Passiflora slept, curled up in the blanket Xavier had reluctantly provided. She had tried to run a dozen times that first day, but she had learned she could not escape. Xavier was simply too fast and too strong. ¡°God, I hate escort missions,¡± he whispered to himself as he stared into the flames. Passiflora stirred in her sleep but did not wake. She was exhausted, and she was always crying. Xavier had to carry her on his shoulders most of the way here since she was so damn slow. He was looking forward to being rid of her when they finally reached their destination in the morning. ¡°This ¡®Gathering¡¯ had better be worth it,¡± Xavier mumbled, speaking to the Ring of Cizen resting in his palm. But Cizen was dormant and did not answer him. He always felt weak when the ring was dormant. Its power at those times was a trickle rather than a torrent. The ring elevated emotions such as anger and desire, which were emotions he was comfortable with. Emotions that had lived inside him for as long as he could remember. Emotions that helped him survive in these wilds. And it would numb weak emotions, such as compassion, sadness, loss, and guilt. But when the ring was dormant, his emotions would return to normal, and he would start to contemplate the hollowness that lay growing inside him. He would ask himself if it had really been necessary to kill Passiflora¡¯s tribe. He would wonder if he should have waited for Milly after the Arena of Choice and apologized so they had stayed friends. He questioned if he would be able to dream again without the screams of the dead echoing in his mind. In those moments of weakness, he wanted to abandon the Ring of Cizen. Toss it in the fire, hurl it off a cliff, or throw it into the depths of the ocean. Yet with every day that passed, the more he knew he never would. He needed the ring. It was like a drug, giving him the fortitude to survive this Contest. Xavier felt the Ring of Cizen activate, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He placed it on his finger without hesitation. The ring numbed his unwelcome emotions and he felt confident once again. He remembered that these fairies were simply bags of experience waiting to be collected, and that Milly and her friends had been the ones who betrayed him. He did not need them. He did not need anyone. He was better off alone. All he needed was the ring, and the power it would help him acquire. ¡°Get up, girl. You have rested long enough,¡± Xavier spat, his anger returned. He threw an ember from the fire on the ground next to her face, and Passiflora scrambled backwards so that her hair did not catch fire. ¡°We¡¯re traveling tonight. I want to be at this Gathering by sunrise, so I can finally be rid of you.¡± Xavier kicked dirt onto the fire to put it out, hauled Passiflora onto his shoulders, and started running across the plains. Chapter 48 - First Fight "I''m not mad. I''m hurt. There''s a difference." Anonymous Milly did not slow down when she reached the top of the steep hills of the Gathering. Leaping over the ridge, she nimbly dodged around roots and rocks as she glided down the slope, creating a cloud of dust that marked her path. She spotted Nobori and the other rescued fairies on the way down. They had made good time. They were helping each other down the steep hillside, every step bringing them closer to home. ¡°I freed them from enslavement, but did I just send them into something worse?¡± Milly agonized, staying out of sight. She knew what awaited them at dawn, when the timer on Luna¡¯s monitor hit zero. Milly had not travelled straight back to the Gathering. She¡¯d turned east, following the trail of the slavers. Calista had been teaching her how to track, and the wolves hadn¡¯t bothered to hide their passage across the grassland. It did not take long to find the dozens of campfires spread out along a winding river. The blanket of foul smoke overhead made them easy to find. There were over a hundred wolves gathered around those fires, tended by an equal number of fairy slaves. Milly saw Red Fang stalking amongst the wolf army, his obliterated eye now covered with an eyepatch, guarding an enormous metal cage covered with hides that obscured what was inside. The wolf looked miserable, and Milly took a grim satisfaction in that misery. Her satisfaction did not last long. She knew why the wolves had gathered there. She¡¯d guessed the nature of the upcoming challenge when she had glimpsed the name on Luna¡¯s monitor ¨C The Arena of Protection. Her battle with Red Fang was a simple prelude to what lay in store for them in the morning. She¡¯d only stayed long enough to tally the wolves before sprinting towards the Gathering, only a few miles away. Her magic was depleted, and although she was physically strong, she had no weapon other than the rusty ones she had received on the first day of the Contest. There was nothing she could do to help these captive fairies. ¡°Not yet, anyway,¡± Milly told herself as she reached the bottom of the slope. ¡°But I know their numbers, where they are going, and when they will attack. And we have a couple hours to prepare.¡± Bursting into the bazaar, Milly sped past surprised fairies as she frantically searched for Calista and Milly. She dodged around joyful revelers laden with sweet pies and gifts for loved ones, though several dropped their prizes in shock at the blur that passed them by. She saw the tiny fox child, Mikoko, holding the hand of her mother, and slowed just long enough to wave. Mikoko¡¯s eyes lit up, and she waved excitedly back, though Milly was gone before her mother turned to see who her daughter was waving at. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let those wolves enslave any more fairies,¡± Milly promised herself. She found Calista and Rain beyond the southern edge of the Bazaar, seated on the shore of the Lake of Memories with Whitewing and Elder Twotongue. Calista had a sour expression as she and Twotongue argued, and Rain¡¯s hand was placed tenderly on Twotongue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Milly!¡± Calista exclaimed as Milly came into view. ¡°The Elders, they¡­ they decided to banish Twotongue. All he was trying to do was help his people, and they banished him. It¡¯s not fair. We can¡¯t let this happen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s their laws, Calista,¡± Rain countered with sympathy. ¡°We can¡¯t get involved.¡± Calista gave a dismissive huff and turned to Milly for support. Yesterday, Milly would have fretted endlessly about whether to support Calista or Rain in the argument, but it didn¡¯t matter right now. ¡°There is an army of wolves only a few miles away,¡± Milly blurted out. ¡°They will be attacking the Gathering at dawn.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s¡­ Milly, that can¡¯t be. These fairies¡­,¡± Calista stammered, glancing down at Twotongue. ¡°How did the wolves find this place? It was supposed to be secret. Wasn¡¯t that the whole point of banning outsiders?¡± ¡°Mils, how do you know this?¡± Rain asked curiously, surprisingly composed. ¡°I saw the wolves, camped out on the prairie,¡± Milly answered simply. The less she said, the easier it would be to keep Luna secret. Calista jerked her gaze from Twotongue to Milly. Her eyes were daggers. ¡°What do you mean you saw the wolves on the prairie?¡± Calista demanded, filled with anger. ¡°You said you just wanted to get away from the crowd. Are you telling me you left me¡­ left us¡­ behind and went out there alone?¡± Milly was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Calista¡¯s anger. ¡°Cally, I¡­¡± ¡°After what happened to you? What if¡­ what if you¡¯d been hurt again? What if you¡¯d been killed. I¡¯d¡­ I¡¯d never know¡­,¡± Calista continued, her anger intensifying. ¡°I¡¯d never know if you were dead, or if you had just abandoned me¡­ us.¡± ¡°Cally, I would never abandon you,¡± Milly said, trying to calm her girlfriend. It didn¡¯t work. ¡°You just did! We were on a date, and you left me. You¡­ you lied to me! You snuck away and left me behind,¡± Calista accused, angry tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Milly stood there in stunned silence. She didn¡¯t know what to say. She couldn¡¯t make it better. Calista¡¯s words stabbed her heart, and the fear of the army of wolves was nothing compared to her fear that she might have just lost Calista. Rain placed a gentle hand on Calista¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be angry, Calista. But if Milly is right, then we need to act now. Can you hold your anger until tomorrow?¡± Calista jerked her gaze from Milly and stalked off towards the shore of the Lake of Memories. She sat herself down on a fallen log and stared out across the waters. Whitewing floated over and joined her and wrapped her in a supportive hug. Milly could hear Calista¡¯s faint sobs as anger and betrayal collided. Milly didn¡¯t know what to do. She started to walk towards Calista, but Rain grabbed her hand to stop her. ¡°Milly, we need to meet with the Elder Council. If we hurry, we can catch them before they adjourn for the night. They had another matter to discuss after deciding on Twotongue¡¯s exile.¡± ¡°How¡­ how do I fix it, Rain?¡± Milly pleaded, her eyes on Calista. Rain gave her a small, sympathetic shrug and began walking towards the Elders Council. Milly¡¯s heart dropped every further when she saw the same anger in Rain eyes, hidden beneath her calm and calculating exterior. Is this the price to keep Luna¡¯s secret? Was this the cost of being her inquisitor? Elder Twotongue placed his webbed hand on Milly¡¯s arm. She looked down into his white, bulging eyes, feeling completely lost. ¡°After our first fight, my wife and I did not speak to each other for three days,¡± Elder Twotongue said, leading Milly gently behind Rain. ¡°I don¡¯t remember what the fight was about, but I¡¯ll never forget the crushing fear that rested against my heart during those days. I was desperate not to lose her. It was all I could think about. I couldn¡¯t sleep. I couldn¡¯t eat. I couldn¡¯t do my duty to our tribe.¡± ¡°But¡­ it got better?¡± Milly asked hopefully. ¡°She forgave you?¡± ¡°Yes, and no,¡± the Elder answered. ¡°We found a way around the hurt I had caused, but she never forgave me. I learned to live with that. But that is not the point of my story.¡± The Elder stopped and spoke with a deep seriousness. ¡°I fell apart for those three days. If what you say is true, and the wolves come for my people, you do not have that same luxury. You must build a wall around your emotions. Cut yourself off from the anger and betrayal you have caused to others. Because we need you, Milly Brown. An army of a hundred wolves will decimate us. Every one of us, from the children to the elderly, will be slaughtered or enslaved. I do not wish my final day with my people to also be the final day of the fairy tribes.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t let that happen,¡± Milly promised. Steeling herself, she pushed the pain and fear deep down inside her. They travelled the rest of the way in silence. The Elders Council met where the river fed into the Lake of Memories on the eastern tip of the shore. The Elders were seated in a semi-circle facing the water, each seated atop a large stone that had been nestled into the sand. Five of the stones were empty. Milly knew one of the empty seats had belonged to Twotongue. Where there the other four? Twotongue sat in the sand on the edge of the gathering and beckoned Milly and Rain to sit silently and listen. An ancient antelope fairy knelt in the sand in the middle of the semi-circle, pleading his case to the elders. ¡°¡­ are so few of us remaining in the Galloping Winds tribe. We¡¯ve lost so many of our people to the wolves that we can¡¯t provide for ourselves anymore. I am left with no choice but to request my tribe be absorbed into another,¡± the antelope concluded reluctantly. ¡°Elder Quickstride, you¡¯ve been a member of this council for a long time,¡± answered an aged raccoon-type fairy that sat on the centre stone. ¡°You know what an absorption means. The Galloping Winds tribe will cease to exist, and your people must give a generation of servitude to the tribe that absorbs you. It is not a decision to be lightly made.¡± ¡°If I do not ask this of you, Chief Elder Tamarind, then the Galloping Winds will not make it to the next Gathering. We shall be lost to the ages, and our stories will fade from this world.¡± ¡°Quickstride¡­,¡± the Chief Elder said, his voice low and stripped of its formalities. ¡°I know you still grieve the loss of your mate, Matron, even after all these years. Are you sure your emotions do not cloud your judgment? There are other ways for your tribe to survive.¡± Elder Quickstride bent at the waist until his antlers pressed into the sand. ¡°There is no other way. I formally request this of you, my old friends.¡± There was a murmur amongst the elders, until Chief Elder Tamarind raised his hand for silence. ¡°We will consider it tonight when Elder Lightpaw returns. Until then, you are temporarily relieved of your duties as elder.¡± Quickstride rose to his feet. ¡°Thank you, Chief Elder. My tribe will await this council¡¯s decision.¡± The elders watched Quickstride walk along the shoreline in silence, until he was no longer in sight. ¡°That¡¯s the third absorption request this year, and it is only the first day of the Gathering,¡± said a seagull-type elder grimly. ¡°How many more of our colleagues will we lose this year?¡± ¡°Speaking of which,¡± interrupted the Chief Elder, spotting Twotongue. ¡°Twotongue, the council has made its decision. You know there are no reconsiderations.¡± ¡°I know, Chief Elder,¡± Twotongue replied, walking to the middle of the semi-circle. ¡°It is on another matter that I come before you. A grave matter that concerns the safety of us all.¡± The Chief Elder motioned to the sand, granting Twotongue permission for the audience, and Twotongue knelt before continuing. ¡°The outsider Milly Brown has seen an army of wolves only a few miles to the East. She fears they will attack us at dawn.¡± ¡°An army of wolves?¡± scoffed the seagull elder. ¡°The Gathering has been a secret place since the first days of the fairies. Even if such an army existed, they can¡¯t find us. The Lake of Memories can only be found by those who are guided to it.¡± ¡°All secrets are revealed in time, Elder Tidebreaker,¡± countered Twotongue. ¡°We have lost so many tribes ¨C so many fairies ¨C to the wolves these past years. All it would take is a single fairy to break our code and to lead the wolves here. We cannot assume the secret remained preserved.¡± ¡°Yes, well, I suppose your own actions prove your point, banished one,¡± Elder Tidebreaker spat with venom. ¡°After all, these outsiders would not be here if not for your wagging tongue.¡± The Chief Elder raised his hand, and silence fell amongst the elders. ¡°Outsider Brown, kneel in the sand and tell us what you have seen.¡± Milly walked over and knelt beside Twotongue, her hands growing sweaty. I have to convince them I am not a liar. What if I cannot do it? ¡°I was exploring the prairies tonight. I just¡­ needed to get away from the crowds, you know¡­¡± Milly started nervously. She kept glancing at Rain, who looked at her with calculating eyes. ¡°You were instructed to remain at the Gathering, outsider. You agreed to those terms,¡± Chief Elder Tamarind interrupted. ¡°Yet, the first words from your mouth are an admission that you cannot be trusted.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­ yes, I did say I would follow those. But¡­,¡± Milly stammered. Scolding herself, she tried to think of an explanation that would preserve Luna¡¯s secret, but her mind felt as if it had been suddenly emptied of logical thought. ¡°Milly Brown and her companions protected the Tribe of the Lost Foal on our journey to the gathering,¡± answered Twotongue with a touch of anger, covering Milly¡¯s hesitation. He lifted the sleeve of Milly¡¯s gown to reveal her scarred arm. ¡°And she did it at great cost to herself. I may be banished, but I will not have Milly¡¯s honor besmirched by the Council.¡± Elder Tidebreaker began to argue, but a sharp movement from the Chief Elder cut him off. ¡°Continue with your story, Outsider Brown. Milly took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She could not fall apart. There was too much at stake. ¡°I needed to be alone, so I climbed the hill to stare at the stars,¡± Milly started, feeling uncomfortable in the lie. ¡°I saw smoke to the east and went to investigate, and that¡¯s when I found the wolves.¡± Milly described what she had seen, reciting every detail she could think of as she was unsure of what may prove to be a pivotal piece of information. She kept glancing over at Rain, who had pulled a notebook out of her inventory and was making notes. When she reached the end, Milly sat back in silence and waited. ¡°Your story is¡­ intriguing, Outsider,¡± the Chief Elder said judgmentally. ¡°I can sense the hesitation in your voice and see the tremble in your hands. There are elements of your story that may be true, but it is dipped in lies, and therefore not credible.¡± ¡°But¡­ the wolves are out there. They are headed this way. You must believe me!¡± Milly protested. ¡°Chief Elder, I ask that you consider Milly¡¯s story before dismissing it. The consequences are too dire to be ignored,¡± Twotongue begged. Chief Elder Tamarind gave an exasperated sigh. ¡°Even if what this outsider says is true, what would you have us do about it?¡± ¡°Fight!¡± came Calista¡¯s shout from behind the Elders. She marched out of the trees with Whitewing at her side. Her eyes were red and puffy, but she spoke with a certainty that commanded attention. ¡°Fight? Are you mad, Outsider Gale?¡± cried a monkey elder with blue fur. ¡°The wolves would slaughter us all. Fairies do not fight wolves. You might as well tell the fish to fight the fisherman.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never seen the fish of the Turquois Sea, Elder Durian,¡± laughed the youngest elder, a handsome fairy of middle years. She looked like human woman, except she had fish scales instead of skin, webbed feet, and a row of gills along her neck. ¡°There are creatures in the deeps that could swallow fisherman, and this council, whole. Do not underestimate the simple fish.¡± ¡°You mock this council with your jokes, Elder Sapphire of the Kinship of the Eastern Waves,¡± retorted Elder Durian. ¡°Perhaps you should sit quietly and learn from your elders.¡± ¡°It is no joke, Durian,¡± Elder Sapphire said with an exaggerated smile that revealed the tension between the two tribes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you visit my ocean, and you can experience their power for yourself.¡± ¡°Enough, Elders,¡± spoke Chief Elder Tamarind calmly. ¡°We have spoken about your bickering before, and to do it in front of these outsiders does us all a disservice.¡± The two Elders stayed silent, though Elder Sapphire gave a sly smirk to Elder Durian, pleased she had gotten in the last word. Milly was growing anxious. The countdown in her head weighed on her more with each passing second. ¡°Outsider Gale, you gave an impassioned speech at the debate on Twotongue¡¯s banishment,¡± the Chief Elder began. ¡°I respected your¡­ passionate, if inelegant, efforts to defend one of our own. But to suggest we fight an army of wolves is to further demonstrate your ignorance of our people.¡± ¡°You outnumber the wolves ten to one. You have magic, and we have six hours to prepare,¡± Calista opposed, her own frustration growing. ¡°We know they will strike from the east, so we build fortifications and traps. Rain can brew explosives. I can assemble strike groups. Milly can¡­¡± ¡°Outsider Gale, your actions would bring chaos and fear to our gathering. I will not obliterate the peace of our gathering based solely on the words of a girl who violated our laws and broke our trust at her first opportunity. Frankly, I don¡¯t believe her, so we will do nothing.¡± There were nods of agreement from most of the elders, though Elder Sapphire was not among them. ¡°Further, for trying to defile our peace, I want you and your friends to leave this gathering at first light. You are no longer welcome amongst us.¡± the Chief Elder said sternly, his calm exterior cracking. ¡°But¡­,¡± Milly protested with disbelief. Her fingertips sparkled with her replenishing magics. If these elders would not listen, then¡­ There was movement behind the Elders. A shriveled old fox emerged from the trees. His fur was a pale red that spoke of fading vitality, though his eyes were keen and mischievous. Walking with a pronounced limp and a cane for support, he slowly strolled across the sand and sat upon one of the empty stones in the semi-circle. He leaned the cane against the stone and brushed the sand off his paw. He seemed to be in no hurry to speak, and he was making a show of it. ¡°Nice of you to join us, Elder Lightpaw,¡± Elder Tidebreaker squawked sarcastically. ¡°You missed an entertaining fabrication from the outsiders. You would have¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I am aware,¡± the ancient fox interrupted. ¡°I was dealing with a related matter. One this council needs to hear before it renders its decision in this matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already made the decision, Lightpaw,¡± the Chief Elder started, but Lightpaw raised a withered hand up to silence him, as if the Chief Elder were a child. ¡°Enslaved ones have been returned to us tonight. They came in the night, malnourished and ravaged by cruelty, but filled with life and hope. As we speak, your clans embrace their long-lost loved ones,¡± Elder Lightpaw started. The words were hopeful, but his tone was somber. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Elder Durian pronounced. ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°I agree, Elder Durian. I am the eldest of us all, and I cannot recall a fairy ever finding their way home,¡± Elder Lightpaw continued. ¡°Yet, this night, such a miracle has occurred. I ask this council to hold off judgement, until you have heard from one of them.¡± Elder Lightpaw beckoned the hidden fairies forward. ¡°Please, join us, great grandson.¡± The brave, emaciated fox called Nobori emerged from the trees, holding the hand of his little sister, Mikoko. Indigo walked behind him, trying to stay in the shadows. Mikoko tugged at Nobori¡¯s fur and pointed towards Milly. ¡°Look, big brother. It¡¯s the internopers.¡± Nobori shifted his gaze, and immediately fell to his knees. ¡°My Goddess!¡± he praised, bowing his head to the sand. All eyes fell on Milly, and Milly could feel Calista¡¯s angry glare burrowing into her back. Chapter 49 – Unwelcome Reunion "To err is human; to forgive, divine." Alexander Pope, English Poet Milly¡¯s mouth moved, but no words emerged. How does someone respond to being called a goddess? She could see the shock in the elders¡¯ faces and felt the heat of Calista¡¯s glare on her back. Nobori lifted his head out of the sand just high enough for Milly to glimpse his grateful, sparking eyes. Only Rain¡¯s calculating expression remained unchanged. A week ago, Milly had failed to convince her coworkers to band together to defend against the attack that would ultimately claim so many Freelancer lives. Jacob Stone¡¯s venomous words had turned the crowd against her, and they had declared her an enemy of the tower. Milly remembered the men hauling her to the lobby floor, and the power of Salem¡¯s Fury coursing through her blood as she flung them away with her magic, cementing the fear in the eyes of her coworkers. It''s her fault! Arrest the Witch! Punish her! Make her pay! It was all too familiar, and Milly¡¯s resolve fractured. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not a goddess,¡± stammered Milly, slowly backpedaling away from the Elder¡¯s council. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ a witch. I¡¯m just Milly. Just Milly.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a liar,¡± accused Elder Tidebreaker, ¡°A liar who corrupts our youth. I will not stand to have such a foul influence in our midst.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call her a liar,¡± Calista spat, her rage now drawn to Tidebreaker. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles went white. Whitewing tugged at Calista¡¯s sleeve, trying to calm her down, but Calista ignored her. ¡°If we were to expel liars, Elder Tidebreaker, you¡¯d be first to go,¡± Elder Sapphire retorted. ¡°And you would be second, Sapphire,¡± countered the monkey elder Durian. The council collapsed into a flurry of accusations and anarchy, as Milly¡¯s spark ignited a fire fueled by long-standing rivalries. Only the fox elder Lightpaw sat quietly amongst his peers, his eyes never leaving Milly. He gave her a sly wink and discreetly pointed towards Rain, who was running through the sand to Milly¡¯s side. ¡°I think we¡¯d better give them space,¡± Rain whispered as she grabbed hold of Milly¡¯s arm and led her away from the council. ¡°Wait, Goddess, I need to thank you¡­¡± came the cry from Nobori, but his words only escalated the arguments to a new crescendo. Rain led Milly wordlessly along the shoreline until they reached the edge of the Gathering. The elders¡¯ arguments were soon eclipsed by playful music and the laughter of children emanating from the bazaar. Milly no longer found any joy in the symphony of sounds. It only served as a reminder that their fragile peace was about to be shattered. How many of them will not see the next sunset? ¡°Rain¡­ I¡­,¡± Milly tried to begin, but her words failed her. ¡°Why did you leave the gathering?¡± Rain asked her directly, without hesitation. ¡°Calista and I deserve to know.¡± ¡°Rain¡­¡± Milly started, but she fumbled again. What can I say? ¡°I can¡¯t tell you. Or Calista. Or anyone. It was just¡­ something I had to do.¡± Rain waited in silence, carefully considering Milly¡¯s words. ¡°Nobori and the fairies¡­ I just happened across them. They were captive, and I couldn¡¯t just let them stay that way,¡± Milly continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know why Nobori calls me a goddess. I¡¯m not a goddess. I¡¯m just a nobody.¡± Rain sat down next to Milly in the sand. ¡°Milly, you may not be a goddess, but you are not a nobody. Those fairies were lucky you were there.¡± For a fleeting instant, Milly thought she had Rain¡¯s support. The thought died when Milly saw the disappointment etched on Rain¡¯s face as Rain continued. ¡°But freeing those fairies does not absolve you of what you did. I don¡¯t understand why you will not tell us what you were doing. I don¡¯t like it, and, frankly, I¡¯m angry that you would put yourself in such danger after Calista and I watched you almost die.¡± Rain pulled up Milly¡¯s sleeve, revealing her scarred arm. ¡°Do you know what it was like to watch you lying there, not knowing if you would make it? Do you understand the panic I felt when the fairy¡¯s healing magic stopped working on your arm. I thought I was going to lose you, Milly.¡± Rain¡¯s tears broke through her calculating facade. ¡°And everything I felt, Calista felt five times over. She watched over you every second of the day. She didn¡¯t sleep. She barely ate. When the wolves came, she fought like a banshee to keep you safe. I¡¯ve never anyone happier than she was when you finally opened your eyes.¡± Milly hugged her knees to her chest, drowning in guilt. ¡°Then, only a day later, you rush off into the wilds, on your own, without telling us. You put yourself in grave danger and, to top it off, you lie to us when you get back? You can see why we are both¡­ livid¡­ at you right now.¡± ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t think¡­,¡± Milly stumbled. What can I say? I need to keep Luna''s secret. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t seem like you did,¡± Rain said. ¡°We could have helped you.¡± They sat in silence for a long while, until Milly worked up the courage to ask the only question that mattered to her. ¡°Have¡­ have I lost you, Rain? Have I lost Cally?¡± Milly mumbled, desperate for an answer. The guilt felt like it was crushing her chest and she struggled to breathe. Rain did not give a quick answer. She sat beside Milly, piecing together a careful answer, and Milly felt the weight on her chest grow with each passing moment. ¡°I¡¯m still your friend, Milly,¡± Rain finally answered. ¡°I¡¯m willing to accept that you can¡¯t tell me what is going on, at least right now. But don¡¯t ever lie to me. I cut the liars out of my life years ago, and I have no wish to replace them with others.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll try, Rain. But¡­ there are things I can¡¯t tell you. Not yet. Maybe not ever,¡± Milly whispered with remorse. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ God Contest stuff.¡± ¡°Then tell me that. Tell me you can¡¯t tell me. At least that is the truth,¡± Rain said, pressing her shoulder comfortingly against Milly. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t tell us, there may still a way Calista and I can help.¡± Milly hadn¡¯t considered that option. She¡¯d seen her role as Inquisitor in black and white, with the need for secrecy requiring her to do it alone. Was there another way? ¡°Look, we don¡¯t know what this God Contest will challenge us with,¡± Rain cautioned. ¡°You¡¯ve been told to keep it secret. But you need to consider whether this might be a means of creating a rift between players. We know the Gods are watching, and conflict like this would be entertaining to them. You need to keep your mind open to all possibilities.¡± Rain¡¯s words hit Milly like a hammer striking an anvil. What if she¡¯s right? Was being Luna¡¯s Inquisitor simply another God Contest challenge? Were her concerns simply an elaborate farce? Milly shook her head in denial. No, it couldn¡¯t be. It did not feel right. Luna by-passed the God Contest rules to assign her the Inquisitor subclass. Didn¡¯t she?Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Milly tried to dismiss the thought, but doubts lingered at the back of her mind. ¡°As for Calista,¡± Rain continued, putting a comforting arm around Milly¡¯s shoulders. ¡°She cares for you. I think she loves you. Nothing fuels anger like being hurt by the one you love. And you did hurt her, Milly. I don¡¯t envy what is in store for you once this Arena is over. You may want to start practicing your apologies now.¡± Milly released a muffled whimper and drew further within herself. Rain gave a small but comforting laugh. ¡°This is your first fight, Milly. Most people worry about losing a new love after their first fight. It¡¯s normal. It¡¯s just that most couples also aren¡¯t trying to build their relationship in a game of life and death. This won¡¯t be the only hurdle you and Calista will need to overcome.¡± Rain stood and rested her hand gently on Milly¡¯s head. ¡°When this Arena is over, talk to her. Let her know how you feel. Then do better next time.¡± Milly gave a sorrowful nod, but Rain¡¯s words had given her a spark of hope. ¡°Good. Now, let Calista manage the Elders. She was already angry at them after their decision on Twotongue, and I¡¯ll bet on Calista¡¯s fury over the elders¡¯ stubbornness any day. I¡¯m going to go brew some more potions. The exploding kind. I get the feeling we¡¯ll need as many as we can get.¡± Rain opened her inventory and pulled out three small, cylindrical vials filled with a viscous blue liquid. ¡°Here, I want you to have these. While you were unconscious, we came across a tiny ring of blue mushrooms. I was able to use them to create these Mana Potions, which will help replenish your magic when you run out.¡± Milly placed them gently in her inventory. ¡°Thanks Rain, for everything,¡± she sniffed. ¡°What should I do?¡± Rain pointed towards the gentle eastern slope that served as the passageway to the Gathering. The pathway was wide enough for eight wagons to descend side-by-side and its surface pressed flat by the footsteps of many generations of fairy kin. It was bordered by steeper rises on either side, making it a natural funnel to the Lake of Memories below. ¡°The wolves will come from that direction. They are vicious but lazy, so they will descend into this valley through the path of least resistance. It¡¯s the best place to fight them, but we¡¯d be stuck in the open. Think you can use your magic to build us some defenses?¡± Milly recalled the terror at the Battle of Tower Beach as arrows cut down the exposed Freelancers. They had been unprepared, and it had cost them dearly. She would not let that happen again. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can,¡± Milly promised, wiping away the last of her tears. ¡°I guess I can use my earth magic to build some walls.¡± ¡°Thanks Mils. I¡¯ll get Calista to send some fairies to help after she convinces the Elders to fight,¡± Rain said. She turned and ran back to the Gathering, already pulling her potions supplies from her inventory. Milly glanced up at the eastern passageway. Where do I even start? I can build a wall, but it won¡¯t be enough to stop an onslaught of wolves. ¡°See, now why couldn¡¯t you have hooked up with Rain? At least she¡¯s halfway likeable, unlike Kill-Stealer Calista.¡± Milly whipped around and came face to face with Xavier, leaning casually against a tree as he smirked in her direction. A dark blade hung at his waist, and he wore a black cloak and ring, though his clothing was still office attire, now torn and dirty. At his side stood a small fairy girl whose eyes flickered between Milly and the Gathering. Milly had seen Xavier¡¯s name on Luna¡¯s monitor. She knew he would be at the Arena, but she did not expect him to be here right now. Was he eavesdropping on us? ¡°Xavier¡­ I¡¯m¡­ glad you are safe. What are you doing here?¡± Milly asked cautiously. ¡°Escort mission,¡± Xavier answered simply, nudging the fairy girl. ¡°I found this fairy girl in the jungle, all alone. A monster had ambushed her tribe, and she was the only survivor. I escorted her to the safety of this Gathering thing. Isn¡¯t that right, Passiflora?¡± As Xavier answered her question, Milly felt a shiver run down her spine, as if his words were nails on a chalkboard. The feeling faded as his answer ended, but the disturbing sensation felt locked in her mind. Passiflora nodded her agreement, but Milly could see the fear behind her eyes. ¡°Then, your mission is complete, right?¡± Milly prompted, stepping closer to Xavier. She wished she had taken one of Rain¡¯s magic potions. Her own magic was only a quarter recovered. ¡°She¡¯s free to head into the Gathering?¡± Milly saw the faintest glimmer of anger pass across Xavier¡¯s face, but a moment later it disappeared. ¡°Of course she is. I can¡¯t turn in the quest until she leaves anyway.¡± Milly felt another shiver run up her spine. Xavier knelt beside Passiflora, his arm clutching her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re safe, little one. Remember what we talked about. I¡¯d be a shame to have to¡­ save you again. Understand?¡± Milly felt the shiver return. ¡°I¡­ I understand,¡± Passiflora squeaked out, before turning around and running as fast as she could towards the Gathering. ¡°I hate escort missions,¡± Xavier complained when Passiflora was out of sight. ¡°And you wouldn¡¯t believe how much of a pain in the ass that little fairy was. Now, why are you three here?¡± ¡°Is that how you¡¯re going to play this?¡± Milly asked sharply. ¡°You show up and insult my girlfriend, and expect me to forget about you being a jackass at the Arena of Choice? You didn¡¯t even bother to stick around to see if I was safe. There has been a lot has happened since you abandoned last week, and I¡¯m not in the mood for any of your usual bullshit.¡± Xavier simply shrugged. ¡°We both survived. That¡¯s all that matters. Though you should have taken my advice. You¡¯d be much stronger now if you¡¯d spent time leveling up on your own. It sounds like you tried to do that tonight and Rain and your new girlfriend are holding you back.¡± Milly clenched her fists tight, fighting the urge to prove him wrong. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this Xavier. The Arena starts in less than five hours, and I¡¯ve got to prepare.¡± Milly stalked past Xavier towards the eastern slope, looking for a place to start. ¡°An Arena?¡± Xavier asked excitedly, following her. ¡°Ah, that army of wolves I passed by?¡± ¡°The Arena of Protection. They attack the fairies at dawn, and we¡¯ve got to protect them,¡± Milly divulged. ¡°I¡¯m getting our defenses ready.¡± Xavier laughed. ¡°You? What do you know about tower defense games? Have you ever played one?¡± ¡°I know more than I did when I last saw you,¡± Milly spat angrily. ¡°There was a battle at the Castle of Glass. A lot of people died, Xavier. We could have used your help, but you were off being a selfish little asshole.¡± ¡°A battle?¡± exclaimed Xavier. ¡°I wish I had known. I must have missed a ton of experience points.¡± Milly¡¯s fist collided with Xavier¡¯s chin. Knocked off his feet, Xavier flew backwards and collided with a willow tree. The force of the impact caused branches and leaves to rain down on his prone form. Milly was breathing heavily, and her knuckles ached from the blow. It was like striking a brick wall. ¡°Fuck you, Xavier,¡± Milly spat, her hand glowing blue as she healed her knuckles. ¡°And fuck your experience. We lost friends that day. I watched as we burned their bodies. Maybe they would be alive today if you had been there to help.¡± Xavier picked himself off the ground and brushed the leaves casually from his cloak. He touched his lips and saw blood on his fingers. Standing in silence, his eyes flickering as if he were having a conversation that Milly could not hear. Brief glimpses of anger flashed across his face, until Xavier removed the black ring from his finger and placed it in his inventory. He looked at Milly, his anger dissipated. He started to laugh. ¡°Damn, Milly. You¡¯ve gotten stronger,¡± he said, hands glowing healing blue as he healed the cut on his chin. ¡°What¡¯s your strength at now?¡± ¡°My strengths and weaknesses are best kept secret. Isn¡¯t that what you told me on the first day, Xavier?¡± Milly said coldly, watching Xavier heal himself. His Healer¡¯s Touch is slower than mine. Does that mean his magic attribute is lower? Xavier smiled. It was the smug but harmless smile he used to give her before the God Contest, and for an instant Milly saw the old Xavier emerge from beneath his growing callousness. ¡°I suppose I did say that. The student is becoming the master.¡± Milly turned and stalked away from Xavier, headed up the eastern pathway. She was not in the mood for his sanctimonious self-congratulations. ¡°You aren¡¯t being fair, Milly,¡± Xavier said, keeping pace with her. ¡°You can¡¯t blame me for the death of those players. It¡¯s not like I knew that would happen after we beat the Arena. I didn¡¯t even go back to the Castle after that.¡± ¡°¡­ people,¡± Milly corrected. ¡°What?¡± Xavier asked. ¡°They are people, not players,¡± Milly said. Xavier threw his arms up in exasperation. ¡°People. Players. Whatever. What the hell is your problem?¡± Milly did not answer him. At the base of the eastern passageway, she placed her hands against the ground and drew forth a wall of stone with her earth magic. The smooth stone rose six feet into the air and was long enough for four fairies to comfortably hide behind. She added a two-foot-wide lip to the top of the wall to shield them from arrows. ¡°Add narrow slits in the middle. Here, and here,¡± Xavier instructed, pointing towards the stone. ¡°The fairies will need to see their targets.¡± ¡°¡­ Fine,¡± Milly mumbled. She placed her fingers where he had pointed and shaped the stone as if it were putty. ¡°I¡¯ve played my fair share of tower defense games. It¡¯s more enjoyable than an escort mission.¡± Xavier said as he started slicing branches off a nearby willow with his black blade. Each strike was precise and powerful, carving through the branches with ease. He leaned the branches against the outside of the new stone wall. ¡°Camouflage,¡± Xavier explained. ¡°We don¡¯t want the wolves to see us waiting for them. We¡¯ll need at least a dozen of these, and we can set up traps along the path. Pitfalls, or we can drop boulders on them from above. You didn¡¯t answer my question earlier.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How did you, Rain and the bit¡­ Calista get here?¡± Milly paused for a moment, irritated. ¡°Escort mission,¡± she said simply, returning to her stone shaping. ¡°And call her that again, and you¡¯ll find out just how strong I am.¡± Xavier barked out a laugh. ¡°Is that a promise?¡± Milly got to her feet, her patience at an end. ¡°Xavier, there are a thousand fairies at the Gathering who might be wiped out in a few hours. You want to be my friend again? How about you show me you are human first, rather than some heartless gamer who only sees them as bags of experience.¡± Her words were sharp as she poured the hardships of the day into each syllable. Xavier considered Milly for a long time as he fought against his pride. ¡°Fine,¡± he finally said with an exasperated sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll start setting up some traps.¡± Xavier stalked up the eastern passage, slicing off branches as he went. ¡°You can count on me, Milly.¡± The shiver ran up Milly¡¯s spine once more, and she finally understood what it meant. It was her Ceaseless Skepticism talent from the Inquisitor subclass activating. Xavier was lying. Chapter 50 - On the Cusp of Dawn "Victory is the child of preparation and determination." Sean Hampton, American Actor Milly worked throughout the night on their ground defenses, while Xavier focused on trapping the steep slopes. She¡¯d consumed the first of Rain¡¯s mana potions to keep going, and Milly had erected and hidden a dozen stone shelters by the time Rain returned with fifty fairy volunteers. ¡°Is this it?¡± Milly asked, feeling dejected. There were so few fairies. ¡°The Lost Foals believed you, of course,¡± Rain began. ¡°But with Twotongue expelled, the council had to appoint a new elder before they would allow the tribe to join. It took the council an hour to select Whitewing, despite her being the obvious choice. Tidebreaker and Durian did everything they could to slow down her appointment.¡± ¡°What the hell is their problem?¡± Milly asked angrily. ¡°They¡¯re going to get everyone killed.¡± ¡°Calm down, Milly,¡± Rain cautioned, glancing over at the anxious fairies. ¡°Tidebreaker and Durian claim you are lying, so they¡¯re doing everything in their power to stop us. They want everyone to return to the celebrations. They are allies with half the council¡¯s elders, including most of the powerful ones, and they¡¯ve threatened to cut ties with any group that helps you.¡± ¡°Then, is this it?¡± Milly asked. ¡°This is all the help we get to fight off an army?¡± ¡°No,¡± replied Rain with a hint of optimism. ¡°There are a few fairies here from other clans. Elder Lightpaw has committed the Floating Leaf Skulk. Nobori convinced Elder Quickstride of the Galloping Winds. He told them what the wolves did to Matron, Quickstride¡¯s mate. Technically, Quickstride is no longer an elder, but things happened so fast that no one told the Galloping Winds that. Both clans sent fifteen fairies and are canvasing for more volunteers.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be enough,¡± Milly whispered. ¡°We saw the fairies try to fight wolves when Red Fang attacked. They aren¡¯t strong when their numbers are so few.¡± ¡°Calista is working on convincing other clans. Tidebreaker and Durian are bullies, but Calista¡¯s taken that as a challenge. You wouldn¡¯t believe the fire she has lit under the elders. She thinks Elder Sapphire and her Kinship of the Eastern Waves ¨C that youngest elder with the fish scales¨C will join, if only to spite Elder Durian. And unlike the others, her clan is quite strong.¡± ¡°Four clans,¡± Milly sighed. ¡°That¡¯s not very many.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not but lamenting it won¡¯t change anything. We¡¯ll work with what we get,¡± Rain said pragmatically. ¡°And we¡¯ll get creative. Speaking of which, I need your help with an idea. A little surprise for our wolf friends. Tentongue, can you bring them over?¡± The young frog fairy bounded over awkwardly, carrying a stained and dripping leather sack. He dropped it at Milly¡¯s feet with a hollow thud and emptied its contents across the ground. Milly nearly threw up. The sack had been stuffed with eight muskrat corpses, aquatic rodents a foot long with short, dark brown fur and a scaled tail. They had been freshly hunted and their bodies were covered with claw marks and puncture wounds. ¡°Rain, what¡­ ugg¡­ what are you doing with these?¡± Milly managed to get out, stepping back from the bodies. ¡°They are a delicacy amongst the fox and monkey fairies. There was a stall selling them at the bazaar, so I bought everyone,¡± Rain explained, as if it had been a normal purchase. ¡°But not for food.¡± ¡°Okay, then¡­ why?¡± Milly asked, completely confused. Rain pointed towards Milly¡¯s witch hat and held up one of her newly brewed orange explosion potions. ¡°I had a clever idea.¡± ¡°My hat? What¡­ No! No, no, no! Rain, I don¡¯t want to use that spell. It was so gross,¡± Milly pleaded desperately. She had only used her reanimate rodent spell once, when she had first received her hat, and she had no desire to try it again. She remembered the feeling of the undead squirrel in her mind, and it sent a shiver down her spine. ¡°We need every advantage we can get, Milly. That spell is too valuable to waste,¡± Rain insisted, pointing towards the pile of muskrat corpses. ¡°And as much as watching you squirm would be cathartic, we don¡¯t have that kind of time. So get casting.¡± Milly gagged and held her hands over the corpse pile. Her magic spiraled from her hands ¨C ribbons of black and grey that connected to the brain of each muskrat. She could feel their dead minds in hers, and she swallowed to stop herself from vomiting. The muskrats required a greater injection of magic compared to the squirrel, but Milly was far stronger than she had been two weeks ago. She poured her magic into the creatures, feeling her magic drop, and eight sets of muskrat eyes opened. Milly jumped in surprise. She could feel the undead rodents swimming in her mind, completely obedient to her will. The process was more instinctual this time, and she was able to corral the rodent minds into a corner of her own and hold them there. It gets easier the stronger I get. This¡­ this isn¡¯t so bad. The muskrats stared at her, awaiting orders. ¡°Umm¡­. hi,¡± Milly said awkwardly. ¡°I guess¡­ go with Rain and do what she says? Is that okay?¡± The muskrats sprang to their feet and lined up in an orderly row in front of Rain. ¡°Oh my god! Look at these little cuties,¡± Rain exclaimed, reaching down and scratching one under its chin. It seemed to lean into her scritches. Milly gagged. ¡°Who wants to cause trouble for some nasty wolves?¡± The muskrats bobbed excitedly. ¡°They seem more alive than the squirrel was,¡± Rain said, studying the undead creatures. ¡°Perhaps the stronger you are, the more you can imbue them with personalities. Fascinating.¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°It was easier this time. I can feel them in my mind, but it isn¡¯t so¡­ icky.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to experiment with that spell later, Mils,¡± Rain said, making a mental note. ¡°But first, come along cuties. Auntie Rain has plans for you.¡± * * * It was the final hour before sunrise when Calista arrived with the remainder of the fairies who had volunteered to fight. She emerged onto the soon-to-be battlefield holding her Spear of Pinga, her sleeveless white Amazon dress billowing around her knees. Next to her walked Elder Sapphire, carrying a sliver trident and grinning so widely that Milly could see her sharp, shark-like teeth. They had been whispering to each other, until Calista saw Milly and grew quiet. Sapphire pointed towards Milly and Milly saw her mouth the words ¡°That¡¯s her?¡± Milly¡¯s heart ached, and not only because of Calista. There were over a thousand fairies at the gathering, but less than one in ten had arrived to fight. The sixty new additions were mostly from Sapphire¡¯s clan, with a spattering of foxes, monkeys, and frogs to round out the numbers. Behind them, Whitewing led a contingent of fifteen fairies with healing magic, who set up a makeshift medical area on the edge of the Lake of Memories. Elder Lightpaw followed close behind, alongside their six of his quickest foxes. Rain and her muskrats were stationed behind one of the stone shelters. The undead rodents now sloshed when they waddled along the ground, and Rain just finished carefully placing a small, blue vial between each of their four front teeth. The Bazaar had gone quiet two hours ago, save for the occasional drunken laugh. The fairies had hunkered down in their tents to sleep off their first night of celebrations, oblivious to the danger that marched towards them. All except the volunteer fighters, who huddled in the cool night and prepared for dawn. Milly was handing out Rain¡¯s darkness potions to the Nobori and his scouts when Calista arrived. ¡°This is every one,¡± Calista said coldly. ¡°What¡¯ve you been doing?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ hey, Cally,¡± Milly said awkwardly. ¡°Are¡­ are you still mad at me?¡± She knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment the words came out of her mouth. Calista¡¯s eyes flared. ¡°Just tell me what I have to work with, Milly,¡± Calista replied, avoiding the question. Milly handed the remaining potions to Nobori to distribute. The fox gave her a diminutive bow before grabbing them and taking over. Calista stiffened at the bow, reminded once again of Milly¡¯s lie. The tension in the air was thick, broken only by Elder Sapphire, who was shaking her head and trying not to laugh at the two women. Calista glared back at Sapphire, but Sapphire simply waved at them to continue.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Umm¡­ we¡¯ve built these shelters to provide cover, and the path down the valley is lined with pitfall traps with spiked logs lining the bottom,¡± Milly said, pointing at various structures. ¡°Xavier has positioned a dozen boulders on the steep cliffs, and Rain¡¯s doing something involving undead muskrats that¡­¡± Milly suddenly stopped as the tension from Calista increased three-fold. ¡°What do you mean Xavier positioned boulders?¡± Calista asked with venom. ¡°When the hell did Xavier get here?¡± ¡°About¡­ four hours ago,¡± Milly answered. Had no one told her? Oh shit, was that my job? ¡°Great. Just great. As if this couldn¡¯t get any worse,¡± Calista complained, though her anger was laced with concern that cut through the tension. ¡°Who¡¯s Xavier?¡± Elder Sapphire asked curiously, her eyes flashing with amusement. ¡°Some asshole we work with,¡± Calista answered bitterly. ¡°He¡¯s a psycho. A self-assured blowhard who thinks he know far more than he does. He has no respect for others. To him, everyone is simply a bit player in the life of Xavier Holloway. The last time he was with us, he screamed at Milly and tried to steal our winnings.¡± ¡°He was cruel to you too, Calista,¡± Milly added. ¡°Whatever. He¡¯s always been an asshole to me. But the way he treated you¡­¡± Calista started, before cutting herself off. ¡°Is he strong?¡± asked Sapphire simply. ¡°I guess so¡­ Yes, he is strong,¡± Calista admitted reluctantly. ¡°But I don¡¯t trust him.¡± ¡°Neither do I,¡± added Milly, and Calista gave her a satisfied look before anger settled back in. ¡°Ladies, we face an army of wolves that want to murder and enslave my people,¡± Sapphire reminded them, as if she were instructing children. ¡°Unless you think this Xavier fellow is in league with the wolves¡­¡± Sapphire looked at Milly, who shook her head. It¡¯s an Arena. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d miss out on the experience or rewards by siding with the wolves. But if this weren¡¯t an Arena¡­, would he? ¡°Then whether you trust him or not is irrelevant. This is war. Sometimes, you must side with people you don¡¯t like to survive,¡± Sapphire continued. ¡°Now, Calista, if you are going to lead these fairies, then I suggest you get started. Sunrise is in an hour. We are running out of time.¡± Sapphire marched towards the stone shelters with her warriors, before stopping halfway with a mischievous smile. ¡°Oh, and Calista, don¡¯t forget what we talked about. Life is short and cruel. Think about how you want to spend what time you have been given, before you find you have no time left.¡± She left the two women in awkward silence. ¡°Calista, I¡­¡± Milly started, but her voice caught in her throat. Rain is right. I need to tell her I¡¯m sorry. I need to say how I feel about her. So why can¡¯t I just say it? Before Milly could speak, Calista grasped her hand tightly, and the emotions ¨C anger, hurt, and affection ¨C in the gesture threatened to overwhelm Milly. ¡°You and I are going to have a very, very long talk when this is over,¡± Calista started. ¡°You hurt me, and you lied to me. I could have helped you, but you didn¡¯t trust me enough to let me.¡± Milly simply nodded, her heart breaking. She¡¯s right. But I can¡¯t tell her. We shouldn¡¯t be together. I¡¯m just going to hurt her again. Maybe it¡¯s better if we¡­ Calista pulled Milly into a tight embrace. Milly stiffened, then melted into her arms, the thought forgotten. ¡°I need you to stay safe in this fight, okay? I need to be mad at you,¡± Calista commanded. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re off the hook just because we might die.¡± Calista leaned in and gave her a short but intense kiss, then pushed Milly out of her arms and marched away without looking back. She barked orders at the fairies as she began assigning them to battle formations. Milly stood there in stunned silence, speechless and more confused than ever. * * * The scouts returned as the first rays of dawn crested the horizon. The wolves were minutes away and headed towards the passageway into the valley. They were as ready as they could be. Calista had split the fairies into ten strike groups of eight fairies, mixed between the clans. The fairies from the Kinship of the Eastern Waves formed the core of each strike group. ¡°My people are warriors,¡± Sapphire declared proudly. ¡°The Eastern Oceans are brutal beneath its waves, and we must fight to survive. There are no wolves, but there are things in the depths that would cause even wolves to flee. I¡¯ll show you sometime, Calista. It¡¯ll be fun.¡± Milly did not doubt Sapphire¡¯s confidence. Her warriors, proficient with water magic and carrying a mix of spears, tridents, and nets, stood steadfast as the battle grew closer. Sapphire wore skin-tight armor made from blue fish scales and carried her silver trident on her back. The trident was a mirror image of the one Diwata, the Freelancer from EnergyWave, had received in her event reward box. Has it really only been a week since we left the Castle of Glass? It feels like a lifetime. Sapphire¡¯s warriors were supported by fairies from the other clans to round out the group¡¯s versatility. The foxes, quick and silent, would strike the wolves from behind and lead them into traps. The frogs would focus on using their paralytic poisons, and they wielded the rusted weapons that Milly, Calista, and Rain had received at the commencement of the God Contest. The monkeys would scamper in the tree-tops to throw stones and darkness potions at the wolves as a distraction, so the strike group could make a quick getaway or carry wounded to the healers. Calista was leading the defense from the front and had joined the strike group closest to the pathway. She shouted out last-minute orders and signaled to the few fairies hidden at the top of the steep slopes to get ready. Xavier had remained at the slope to avoid Calista, and was grinning wildly as the wolves grew close. ¡°You should drink a mana potion, Mils,¡± Rain whispered. She held her Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach at her side, its glowing green gem loaded with homebrewed poison. She was wearing a leather, Victorian-style tailcoat with long sleeves and a built-in vest with five buttons of varied colors. The buttons glowed with faint magic. An orderly line of muskrats sat at the ready behind her, each clutching the small blue vial between its teeth. ¡°We¡¯ll need you at full strength.¡± Milly opened her inventory, drank her second potion, and handed the vial back to Rain. She felt her magic reserves replenished. ¡°Thanks Rain,¡± Milly mumbled. ¡°Where¡¯d you get the coat?¡± ¡°I made it, using my Pendant of Imagination,¡± Rain said chipperly, spinning around to show off her finery. ¡°I had to do something while we traveled with the Lost Foals. I finished it last night. It¡¯s not particularly magical. Just a three-point increase to my toughness and minor magical effects on each button. It¡¯s not beautiful like the Amazon dress I made for Calista, but it has something far more useful than beauty and magic.¡± She stuck her hands in its two deep pockets and pulled out a couple vials. ¡°Pockets!¡± she exclaimed excitedly. Milly burst out laughing, the absurdity of Rain¡¯s proclamation cutting through the tension in the air. ¡°You look like you should have a back-alley pharmacy in nineteenth century England, Rain,¡± chuckled Milly. ¡°And I mean that is the best possible way.¡± ¡°Rain-on-my-Parade. For all your back-alley, totally legal pharmaceutical needs,¡± Rain pronounced with a flourish. ¡°And coffee and tea, of course.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Milly said with an enthusiastic nod. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re my friend, Rain.¡± ¡°Me too, Mils,¡± Rain responded, as dawn finally arrived. ¡°Even when you are a dummy.¡± A three-toned chime rang out, causing Milly¡¯s heart to quicken. It was the same tone that had sounded when Phase Two of the God Contest had started. A translucent golden barrier formed high in the sky above the Lake of Memories, and settled over the valley, trapping them inside. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in the Arena,¡± said Rain calmly. ¡°But the fairies haven¡¯t reacted to the barrier or the chime. Maybe only players can see it?¡± ¡°Maybe, but the fairies will see that,¡± Milly said, pointing at the top of the pathway. Red Fang, his destroyed eye covered with an eyepatch, looked down upon the gathering from outside the golden barrier. He was leading their advanced wave, comprised of twenty four wolves, all salivating at the thought of the victims below. Calista''s protective shield snapped into place around Milly and Rain, and a second later Salem¡¯s Fury activated. Power flowed into Milly¡¯s blood and her eyes glowed with violet fire. She felt the righteous anger that accompanied the power fill her, pushing aside her chaos of emotions, and allowing her to focus on her single, unalterable purpose. Gently tracing her finger along her fire scorched scars, she felt herself smile. ¡°I just might enjoy this.¡±
Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 20 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: 32 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor) Agility: 35 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: 38 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: 65 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (beginner), Earth (beginner), Water (beginner), Air (beginner) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (beginner), Regeneration (beginner) Necromancy - Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Psychic - Telekinesis (beginner), Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Features: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Features: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible
Rain Desjarlais Level: 18 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: None Sub-class: None Strength: 15 Agility: 18 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: 24 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +3 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: 22 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Alchemy - Nature''s Bounty, Alchemy (beginner), The Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Combat (Dagger) - Dagger Specialist (beginner) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (beginner) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Features: None Sub-Class Features: None
Calista Gale Level: 18 Specialty: Reluctant Leader Class: None Sub-class: None Strength: 28 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: 18 (+6 from Spear of Pinga) Toughness: 18 (+3 Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Magic: 14 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Defensive - Protective Shield (beginner, augmented, enhanced by Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress), Combat (Spear) - Spear Specialist (intermediate), Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga) Exploration - Improved Perception (beginner, Huntress'' Scrunchy), Companion of Artemis (Luna''s Pendant of the Journey) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector
Chapter 51 - First Wave "It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, the earthquake." Frederick Douglass, American Author Red Fang glared down into the valley, four rows of wolf soldiers standing at his back. They each wore a collar ¨C white, green, red, or black ¨C that pressed tightly against their necks. Swaying impatiently, they waited for the command that would send them down the pathway to slaughter the fairies camped below. Red Fang was a head taller than even the largest of his soldiers. He barked an order for them to be still, and they quickly complied. His nose was a hair away from the golden barrier, but he did not move past it. Milly studied the dynamics from the small, hidden hole in their camouflaged stone shelter. ¡°What are they waiting for?¡± Rain asked curiously, leaning over Milly¡¯s shoulder. Their answer came in the form of an earthquake. The ground beneath them began to shake, and it cascaded across the entire valley. White-crested waves appeared as the calm surface of the Lake of Memories was shattered. Shouts ran out across the Gathering as sleeping fairies were jolted awake under collapsing tents and wagons. The rustle of the leaves from violently shaking trees made it sound like they were in the midst of a hurricane. Hundreds of waterfowl flew into the air as a massive obsidian slab emerged from the centre of the Lake of Memories. The tombstone-like object was over a hundred feet across and twice as tall. It rose into the air until its peak reached the ridge of the valley. There were golden symbols etched across its surface, which Milly could not read. As the obsidian slab reached its pinnacle, six beams of multi-colored light shot from the tip of the slab to the six tallest trees in the valley. Strips of colored fabric appeared in their branches that unfurled and blew in the wind. A circular, sparkling border of light appeared around the base of each tree, ten feet across. The nearest of the trees had been transformed above Whitewing and her healers. They scrambled beyond its glow, though it did not harm them. The rumbling abruptly stopped, and the world around them was engulfed in a tense silence. There was an electric crackle in the sky above, and Tutoria¡¯s voice emerged from above the obsidian slab. ¡°Players, welcome to the Arena of Protection!¡± she bellowed across the valley. She was using the same announcer-style voice she had adopted when the God Contest had moved into Phase Two. ¡°Those cloth-covered trees are Korean, Mils,¡± Rain whispered, pointing to the one towering above Whitewing. ¡°I went there on a high school trip. They are called seo¡­ seo something. The patron god of this arena must be a Korean diety.¡± ¡°That she is, Ms. Desjarlais,¡± Tutoria exclaimed in a chipper voice, evidently listening in on their conversation. ¡°Seonangshin is the patron deity of villages. Her manifestation embodies the six protective seonangdangs that have appeared around this arena. It was her sacred duty to defend villages under her protection. It was a duty she executed with dedication and honor for millennia. But now that time is over. All that remains is her manifestation, and this arena.¡± Tutoria let a mournful pause hang in the air, as if her words were part of a funeral speech. Milly remembered Hephaestus¡¯ words from the memory sphere. I watched the madness take my brother. I see it gaining hold in the others. I feel it trying to grab on to me. How long do we have before we are all lost? Had the real Seonangshin succumbed to the madness? How many of the gods had fallen to their madness, leaving only the pre-programed manifestations they had designed for the God Contest? ¡°The wolves are at your door!¡± Tutoria boomed, suddenly breaking the silence and resuming her jovial announcement. ¡°Defend those who cannot protect themselves. Honor Seonangshin as you fight to save the lives of the helpless.¡± The fairies assigned to the strike groups scanned the skies, their knees quaking as they tried to locate the voice in the heavens. Several monkey fairies fell to their knees in prayer, evidently familiar with Seonangshin. Across the gathering, the chaotic shouts of fear grew to a fever pitch. ¡°As a final act of her service, Seonangshin will shelter any fairies who stand within the seonangdangs¡¯ light. It will protect them from harm. The players will be declared victorious once they¡­¡± Tutoria¡¯s voice suddenly cut off, leaving only the shouts of the terrified fairies. She resumed a few seconds later, only her voice had slipped into a flat monotone devoid of emotion. ¡°Error. Arena corrupted. Victory conditions not found. Arena explanation terminated.¡± A dark, billowing cloud emerged from the pinnacle of the golden dome, spreading out like a disease over its surface. The first rays of dawn were absorbed by the darkness, leaving the world below encased in sickly black and red. ¡°Milly, I don¡¯t think this is supposed to happen,¡± Rain said as she watched the darkness cover the valley. ¡°It¡¯s spreading like a disease.¡± Milly¡¯s glasses flashed, and a small line of text scrolled across the bottom. CORRUPTION LOCATED. SCANNING ANOMOLY. SENDING DATA TO AI DIRECTOR. ¡°I hope you can see this, Luna,¡± Milly whispered to herself, holding her head steady so the glasses could scan the corruption in its entirety. ¡°We need your help right now.¡± The moment the darkness touched the forest floor, Red Fang and his wolves passed through the barrier. They marched down the path, headed towards the gathering. Calista signaled silently to the defenders with a raise of her spear. Be ready. Here they come. The slow march of the wolves quickly became a disorderly run as the sounds of the helpless fairy prey reached them. The smell of their victims excited them, and the wolves began to howl in triumph as they loped down the path, filled with bloodlust and confidence. The fastest wolf ¨C a smaller, grey beast that led the pack by two wolf-lengths ¨C made it halfway down the path when she struck the first of the pitfall traps. Her face contorted in shock as the branches hiding the pit snapped beneath her feet and she tumbled down face-first as full speed. The wolf met her death as she her head and chest were skewered upon the sharp branches at the bottom of the pit. ¡°Hold!¡± shouted Red Fang, but the command did not come fast enough. A second wolf crashed into another pit just as Red Fang ceased his own charge. ¡°I said hold, you sorry excuses for pups!¡± Red Fang sniffed the air, and his good eye narrowed in anger. ¡°I know that scent,¡± he growled, unconsciously caressing his eyepatch. The wolves assembled in small groups behind Red Fang, confusion spreading through their ranks.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. They thought this would be easy. They aren¡¯t used to fairies putting up a strong resistance. ¡°Milly,¡± whispered Rain, pointing towards a group of five wolves that had grouped tightly together. ¡°Tell Marvin to do what Auntie Rain taught him.¡± ¡°Marvin? Who is¡­¡± Milly started to ask, until one of the eight threads that connected her to the undead muskrats began to glow in her mind. She closed her eyes and mentally pulled the thread. The connection to ¡®Marvin¡¯ snapped into her thoughts. She could see him lying low in the rocks only a few feet away from the five wolves. She could faintly feel the vial between its teeth and its belly filled with liquid. ¡°You named the muskrats, Rain?¡± Milly asked in disbelief. ¡°Of course. Everything deserves a name. Now hurry up.¡± Milly relayed the direction to Marvin. Marvin¡­ um¡­ do what Rain told you to do. She felt the undead creature acknowledge her orders with excitement. Milly closed off her mind to the muskrat. She didn¡¯t know what Rain had in mind, but she knew she didn¡¯t want to feel it in her head. ¡°Let¡¯s introduce some more chaos,¡± Rain chuckled, wringing her hands like a cartoon villain. Despite the situation and the emotional fire of Salem¡¯s Fury, Milly couldn¡¯t help but smile at her friend¡¯s enthusiasm. Marvin the undead muskrat bounded from his hiding place and into the middle of the five wolves. They looked down at the creature with confusion. Marvin returned their gaze and broke into a big muskrat grin. He shattered the blue vial between its teeth and its contents flowed into his stomach. The resulting explosion flung the wolves ¨C what was left of them ¨C thirty feet in all directions, and the remaining wolves, except Red Fang, were knocked off their feet. When the dust settled, all that was left was a three-foot deep hole where the five wolves once stood. ¡°You made suicide bomber undead muskrats?¡± Calista whispered to Rain from her shelter. ¡°You are a scary lady, Rain.¡± ¡°They were already dead, so that¡¯s probably not an accurate description. And I was hoping the explosion would be bigger, but their tiny stomachs can only hold so much,¡± Rain answered, slightly disappointed. ¡°Oh, I hit level nineteen!¡± Rain opened her character screen and quickly added two points to agility. A slight shiver ran up her spine as the enhancement took effect. ¡°Get on your feet, you fucking useless excuses for wolves,¡± Red Fang shouted, kicking at the prone wolves. They could hear the blind rage in his voice as he hauled them to their feet. ¡°You are embarrassing your clans. Get up and kill them all.¡± The wolves resumed their chaotic charge forward, though their hesitation in their movements. Continually jostling to avoid the lead position, their savage certainty had been replaced with unexpected fear. ¡°They don¡¯t have the discipline of Red Fang¡¯s slaver pack,¡± Rain murmured, studying their charge. ¡°He must nip at their heels to keep them moving. Curious.¡± ¡°They are still dangerous, Rain,¡± Milly reminded, her gaze fixed on Red Fang. Sparks of magic formed on her fingertips, anxious for the fight to arrive. There was a sharp crack as another wolf struck a pitfall trap and fell to its death. A second later, another had fallen. A third was crushed by a boulder shoved from the fairies positioned on the slopes above. Despite it all, Red Fang did not slow their charge. He raced forward in his rage, leaping over the pits uncovered by his dying pack and barreling towards his unseen targets. All the while, he snapped at the heels of his pack, driving them forward. At the half-way point, Red Fang moved from the back to the middle of the pack, the scent of his prey reaching his nose. He scanned the bottom of the path, desperately searching for its source. Four young wolves found themselves at the rear of the pack and stopped their charge. Without Red Fang driving them forward, they were having second thoughts. They stood in the middle of the path, paralyzed by indecision. Above them, a boulder had been dislodged and was tumbling towards them. Milly slapped her forehead in exasperation when she saw Xavier standing atop the boulder, nimbly riding it down the slopes. He had his black blade drawn and his feet quickly danced to stay equal to its momentum. He jumped off just as the boulder slammed into two of the wolves and crushed them beneath its weight. All that was left was a red smear when they had once stood. Xavier landed behind the two remaining wolves and quickly impaled one through the back. Black fire licked across the wolf¡¯s fur where it had been struck, and its face went pale as it died. Xavier kicked the dead creature¡¯s back to dislodge his blade and turned to face the final wolf with a triumphant grin. ¡°What a show-off. This isn¡¯t the time for that, Xavier,¡± Milly murmured to Rain. ¡°Maybe, but it got the job done. It¡¯s your turn now,¡± Rain shrugged, pointing towards Red Fang as his remaining pack reached the bottom. Calista signaled Milly with a subtle wave of her spear. ¡°Okay. Wish me luck,¡± Milly said. Milly held out her arms and opened her palms towards the sky. Channeling fire into her left and air into her right, she slapped them together with a loud crack. The two magics merged to create electricity - a lightning bolt cupped in the palm of her hands. Milly stepped out from behind the hidden stone shelter and targeted the nearest wolf, a massive light-brown beast that was dangerously close to Calista¡¯s shelter. She thrust her palm forward and her first bolt of lightning arched across the battlefield. The power of her magic took the wolf off its feet and hurled it into a willow tree. Its scorched corpse fell to the ground, and the smell of charred fur wafted in the air. Calista and Rain gaped in stunned disbelief at Milly¡¯s power. ¡°What¡­ what the hell, Milly?¡± Calista exclaimed in utter shock. Milly simply shrugged and cut down a second wolf with the same spell. Her magic reserves dropped significantly after each casting. It¡¯s a powerful spell, but it drains my magic so quickly. If I overdo it, I won¡¯t have any magic left. But it did the trick. Here he comes. Red Fang swerved towards Milly. His eyes were fixated on her throat, and hatred filled his every movement. In his fury, he abandoned command of this pack, leaving his remaining wolves vulnerable and confused. Just as planned. Milly felt no fear. Any fear she had was burned in the fires of Salem¡¯s Fury. Fuel for her own righteous anger. She ran an impatient finger along her scarred arm as she waited for him to arrive. ¡°No quick ending for you,¡± Milly hissed, remembering the death he had brought upon the Lost Foals. She channeled earth magic and fragments of stone rose into the air and encased her fist in a protective stone shell. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± * * * The wolves continued their charge but uncertainty, sewn by the departure of their leader, slowed their moment. They stared at Red Fang¡¯s form as he ran towards the witch, so the first wolf to pass beyond the stone shelters did not see Calista¡¯s hurled spear pierce its skull from ear to ear. It collapsed forward, somersaulting along the ground, until its momentum ended. ¡°Now!¡± Calista shouted to the strike teams, recalling her Spear of Pinga and throwing it at the next closest wolf. Her spear struck it in the ribs, and it let loose a howl of pain, until Calista kicked it in the throat. She heard a sickening crunch as its windpipe collapsed, and the creature fell to its knees, gasping for breath. Calista grabbed hold of the end of her spear and, dodging the wolf¡¯s desperate strike, used it to swing herself around its body and behind its back. She took three steps away from the wolf and activated Spear Recall. Her spear ripped itself through the dying wolf¡¯s body as it found the straightest path back to its owner. In the few seconds Calista had taken to kill the two wolves, Sapphire¡¯s warriors had launched a dozen nets towards those that remained. As four were ensnared, the fox fairies darted from the shadows and struck the wolves from behind and opened long gashes across their backs, just deep enough to draw blood. When the foxes were clear, the frogs spat their poison into the open wounds. The wolves spasmed as the paralysis began to take effect, and Sapphire signaled her trident-wielding warriors to move in and finish off the job. The remaining two wolves had targeted Rain, though one already lay incapacitated on the ground, violently vomiting as Rain¡¯s poisons took effect. Dodging the predictable strikes, she danced around the remaining wolf, waiting for the opportunity for a quick strike of her dagger. The wolf overextended itself, and Rain struck hard. She pierced it below the heart, only nicking the flesh beneath its thick fur, but it had been enough. The wolf staggered and slowed as the poison began to take effect. Rain found herself only half paying attention to its final strikes as she waited for the poison to reach its heart. ¡°This is too easy,¡± Rain puzzled, lazily deflecting the wolf¡¯s last, desperate strike. ¡°These wolves are far weaker than the ones that attacked the Lost Foals. We¡¯re stronger now, but not this much stronger. Something¡¯s wrong. Where is the rest of their army?¡± Her gaze scanned the horizon and fell upon a solitary figure standing at the top of the path. It was another wolf, studying the carnage below. His white fur was covered in blood-painted symbols, and it clutched a whip in its right hand and a bronze sword in its left. He did not raise the alarm. He did not move to help. He watched and waited. A smaller brown wolf ran to the solitary figure¡¯s side. They exchanged a few words, and he sent the brown wolf on its way. ¡°Shit,¡± Rain whispered with a sudden realization. She didn¡¯t even notice the poisoned wolf fall to the ground. ¡°Red Fang isn¡¯t a general leading their army.¡± Her eyes fell on Milly, locked in combat with the one-eyed wolf. ¡°He¡¯s bait.¡± Chapter 52 - Rematch "Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge." Paul Gauguin, French Artist Milly dodged as Red Fang came in with a wild strike, his extended claws narrowly missing her gown. She could feel the wind across her face from the power of his blow, and she smiled. She closed the distance with a single step, and her earth-encased fist connected with his jaw. The force of her punch propelled him into the air, and Milly blasted him with air magic when he reached the apex. He flew backwards and landed in an uncontrolled, end-over-end tumble. ¡°You¡¯re stronger now,¡± snarled Red Fang, spitting out a mouthful of blood. ¡°But you aren¡¯t strong enough.¡± He jumped at her, his powerful legs closing half the thirty-foot gap in a second. Milly extended her scarred arm, and his momentum was suddenly halted. He dangled in mid-air under the power of her telekinesis. Milly felt her magic reserves steadily tick away as he struggled to break her hold. ¡°I¡¯m strong enough. Call off your wolves and surrender. Leave this valley, and stay away from the fairies,¡± Milly demanded, her violet eyes flashing. If she could force his surrender, she could stop this war before it began. She wanted to end him here and now, and she found herself fighting against the desire with every heartbeat. ¡°My wolves?¡± Red Fang said with a spiteful laugh. He stopped struggling. ¡°If you think these are my wolves ¨C my clan ¨C then you are a na?ve fool.¡± Red Fang dug beneath his fur and pulled out a small knife hidden within. He flung it quickly towards Milly¡¯s head. Milly instinctively raised her hands to cover her face, and the knife struck Calista¡¯s protective shield with an audible crack. The knife fell to the ground, and Milly breathed a sigh of relief, until she realized she had disrupted her telekinesis. Red Fang, freed from her magic, darted at Milly. He stretched out his claws and went for her throat. His face flashed in vicious triumph. ¡°Die, fool! Die for the glory of the Silver Lakes.¡± Milly fired a blast of air at her feet and jumped. Her enhanced strength and magic sailed her ten feet into the air. She leapt over Red Fang¡¯s immense form and slammed her foot hard into his back, sending him sprawling to the ground. With a flick of her wrists, cuffs of stone formed over each of his limbs, holding him tightly face-first in the dirt. Milly wanted to humiliate the wolf. She wanted to punish him for brutally attacking the Lost Foals. He had wanted to turn them into slaves. Slaves like Nobori and Indigo and so many others. She wanted him to know what fear felt like. Unfortunately, she did not have that kind of time. ¡°Call. Them. Off. Now,¡± Milly repeated her demand, every word laced with a threat. Red Fang snarled, desperately struggling to free himself. His eye patch had fallen off. Inside, the hole that had once been his eye was filled with puss and maggots. It had been left to fester, uncleaned and filled with disease. The wolves had fairy slaves with healing magic. Why didn¡¯t he get healed? Red Fang stopped struggling, unable to break his bonds. He started to cackle with manic laughter. ¡°I can¡¯t call them off, worthless prey. They do not answer to me.¡± With a snap of her fingers, the stone around Red Fang¡¯s left ankle tightened. He screamed in pain as his ankle shattered. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Milly said coldly, fueling Salem¡¯s Fury with her mercy. She knew he was telling the truth ¨C her new Ceaseless Skepticism talent told her as much ¨C but he was hiding something. ¡°Who can call them off?¡± ¡°Heh. You are not the same creature I fought before,¡± Red Fang spoke, grinding his teeth to shut out the pain. ¡°You were weak then, but you have wolf in you now. You¡¯ve killed, and you enjoyed the kill. I can see it in your eyes. Was it one of my people? Or perhaps you realized how well the fairies are as prey.¡± Milly tightened the stone around his right ankle. ¡°Ahhh¡­ very well, wolf,¡± Red Fang acquiesced. ¡°It does not matter. I have accomplished what was asked of me. You cannot change it. You own actions have sealed your demise.¡± ¡°The last of your wolves are being slaughtered, and you are lying face down in the dirt,¡± Milly said flatly, pointing towards the remaining wolves being taken down by Calista, Rain, and Sapphire. The fairies had a few casualties, and the wounded were being carried by the monkeys to Whitewing and her healers. ¡°Yes, they are. Just as our Chief commanded,¡± Red Fang said with triumph. ¡°¡­ What?¡± Milly asked, feeling a sudden chill. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Those wolves do not belong to the Silver Lakes. You just slaughtered children of the Callous Claws, Single Pine, Winter Winds, and Erosion of Hope clans. Children of nobles and chiefs. First year pups who had yet to wet their claws on the blood of their enemies, traded as hostages to secure a fleeting peace that no longer benefited us.¡± That was why the wolves were so easy to fight. They were lower level than Red Fang¡¯s pack that attacked the Lost Foals. Way lower level. ¡°Those collars they wear convey were to assure their safety. They tell their clan who killed them. It is why we could not kill them ourselves. So we used them as bait, and you did our job for us. You not only revealed your defenses, but you have weakened our rivals and painted a target on the back of every¡­¡± ¡°¡­ human,¡± Milly said, distracted by the beat of a drum in the distance. It echoed across the valley, but she could not pinpoint its source.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°¡­ human in this world. You will face the collective rage of the wolf clans, and they will wipe your species from existence. Not that you will be around to see it. The Third Warband of the Silver Lakes will see to that, now that I have peeled back the faint hope of your ambush.¡± Red Fang snarled at Milly¡¯s surprise. ¡°What? Did you believe us na?ve? We are the Wolves of the Silver Lakes! We have survived a millennium of clan warfare. We are the strongest of the five. Did you think we would simply march into this valley without a plan, even against a foe as pitiful as the fairies? You humans are arrogant, and it is your undoing.¡± The horn sounded across the valley once more, and a monstrous roar answered from atop the path. The hook-handed wolf raised his whip and snapped it in the air. Its crack was audible even in the valley below. Calista and Rain rushed over to Milly as the final wolf was impaled on Sapphire¡¯s spear. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Calista asked with concern. She had sweat beading on her forehead and her white amazon dress was spattered with blood. She¡¯s so beautiful. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine, Cally. Your shield saved me,¡± Milly answered. ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°Rain and I are fine,¡± Calista answered with relief. ¡°But this isn¡¯t over. Not by a long shot. What was that roar?¡± ¡°It is the last sound you shall hear before you die,¡± Red Fang growled. The roar cascaded across the valley once more, and this time they saw its source. The creature strode into view beside the hook-handed wolf, and Milly felt a note of fear break through the fires of Salem¡¯s Fury. It was a massive two-headed wolf, twenty feet tall and fifty feet long. Its white fur was covered in glyphs painted in blood, matching those of the hook-handed wolf. Saliva dripped from its colossal fangs, which gave an acidic sizzle when it struck the stones below. Its angry red eyes fixated on the fairies, now revealed in the valley below, and it shook with excitement. The beast reminded Milly of a hound waiting for its master¡¯s command to attack. ¡°Calista¡­,¡± Rain started, but Calista had Luna¡¯s Pendant of the Journey already clutched in her hands. She materialized the descriptive window where Rain and Milly could see.
Unique Beast, The Fairy Killer of the Silver Lakes The Fairy Killer of the Silver Lakes is one of the four cornerstones of the Silver Lakes¡¯ power in the Clan War. Born of twisted transfiguration magic, Fairy Killer has been fed exclusively on the meat of fairies who had outlived their usefulness. This has not only given it immense size and power, but bestowed upon it a reserve of magical energy that it can draw upon to fuel elemental strikes. Its all-consuming urge to track down and devour fairies can only be controlled by its Master and his magical whip. Recommended Player Level: 30
¡°Oh¡­ shit,¡± Calista whispered as she finished reading the description. ¡°And guess who that is.¡± She turned her attention to the hook-handed wolf, and a new information window appeared.
Unique Beast, Gorath the Alpha Gorth the Alpha is a Silver Lakes elite. Raised alongside Fairy Killer since birth, he has dedicated his life to controlling the uncontrollable. Despite his close connection with the beast, it is only through the magical crack of Gorath¡¯s whip that he can control the fearsome beast. A skilled fighter in his own right, Gorath has been at the forefront of every major Silver Lake¡¯s battle in recent memory. Recommended Player Level: 30
¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± Calista said, her mind whirling. ¡°But there are two of them and there are a hundred of us. We can stick to hit and run tactics from the safety of the shelters. Sapphire, take your warriors and¡­¡± Red Fang¡¯s laughter cut through Calista¡¯s orders as a second horn sounded from the southern slopes. ¡°You have no idea just how fucked you are. Welcome to the real battle.¡± A hundred armored wolves ¨C the Third Warband of the Silver Lakes ¨C streamed over the top of the southern ridge, quickly descending the slopes. It was the same path Milly had taken when she had returned earlier that night, and they would arrive at the gathering¡¯s bazaar in under two minutes. ¡°The warband repositioned the moment the first pup fell into your trap.¡± ¡°Shit. Shit, shit, shit,¡± Calista whispered frantically as she paced back and forth, torn between the two threats. ¡°Sapphire!¡± The Elder of the Kinship of the Eastern Waves hurried over to Calista¡¯s side, her silver trident dripping wolf blood. ¡°I¡¯ll move our strike teams into the gathering,¡± Sapphire announced with certainty. ¡°We must bring the fight to them and defend our people to the last.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s¡­,¡± Calista started to agree, but her eyes fell on the stone shelters. ¡°No, we¡¯ll give up our only defense. That¡¯s what the wolves want us to do. If we give up our position, our strike teams will be slaughtered.¡± Calista¡¯s heart broke as she realized what had to be done. ¡°We defend here, where our defenses are strongest,¡± Calista ordered, each word soaked in the lives of fairies that would be left behind. ¡°We control this battlefield, and there are still traps. We stand the best chance of surviving right here.¡± Milly gave Calista a supportive nod. It gave Calista the strength to continue. ¡°Sapphire, send the foxes and monkeys into the gathering to spread the word. They are to get as many of the children and elderly under the Seonangdangs as possible. Everyone else should make their way to us. We make our stand here.¡± ¡°They will enslave many, and slaughter those they cannot,¡± Sapphire said, her eyes as hard as steel. ¡°Most will not make it.¡± ¡°I¡­ I know, but what choice do we have?¡± Calista responded, choking back her emotions. ¡°At least this way, we can focus on saving those we can.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Sapphire said coldly. ¡°But I wanted to hear you say it. A general should know what they sacrifice for victory.¡± With that, she marched into the congregating fairy defenders and started barking out orders. Calista coughed to stifle her tears, and Rain placed a hand gently on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s the right decision, Calista. It¡¯s the Arena of Protection, not the Arena of War. We need to protect as many fairies as we can.¡± ¡°Yah, I know,¡± Calista said. She turned her gaze towards Fairy Killer and Gorath. She saw Xavier hidden halfway down the path, waiting to ambush them. ¡°Well, he¡¯s an idiot, but he¡¯s got the right idea this time. Come on, girls. Let¡¯s go kill us some unique beasts.¡± Calista and Rain started marching up the path, weapons at the ready. Milly began to follow but was stopped by Red Fang¡¯s desperate shout. ¡°Wait! You can¡¯t leave me here,¡± he cried out, resuming his struggles. ¡°End it.¡± Milly looked at him dispassionately. She touched the scars on her arm, then gazed into his diseased eye. ¡°You¡¯re not worth the magic,¡± Milly said, turning away from the trapped beast. ¡°You fucking coward!¡± screamed Red Fang. ¡°You killed me the moment you took my eye. The Silver Lakes do not abide failure. This was my chance for a useful death. So give it to me!¡± Milly did not answer him. ¡°Coward! I¡¯ll break free. I¡¯ll find your family and friends and drown you in their blood. I¡¯ll make you watch me rip that spear-wielding¡¯s bitch¡¯s head off. I¡¯ll¡­,¡± screamed Red Fang, until a barrier of earth formed across his skull. It inched across his face until the only part left uncovered was his destroyed eye. Red Fang¡¯s body began to spasm, unable to breathe, as earth worked its way down his throat. Milly snapped her fingers, and the stone tightened, crushing the wolf¡¯s skull. Blood dripped through the opening where his eye had once been, and his body went still. ¡°No sense wasting the experience,¡± Milly said coldly, as she saw her level increase to twenty-one. ¡°Xavier would be proud.¡± She turned away from the corpse and sprinted to catch up with Calista and Rain. She had bigger things to worry about. Chapter 53 - Unique Beast: Fairy Killer "Grab the broom of anger and drive off the beast of fear." Zora Neale Hurston, American Dramatist ¡°Fairy Killer and Gorath each have a recommended player level of thirty,¡± Rain observed as she carefully dipped the blade of her dagger into the poison vial. The poison flowed into the blade and into gem embedded in the hilt. She returned the now-empty bottle to her inventory. ¡°We aren¡¯t even close to that level. Are you sure we don¡¯t want the fairies¡¯ help?¡± Calista studied the approaching unique beasts. The world was engulfed in fairy screams they spotted the wolves descending towards them, yet Gorath strolled down the path as if he were out for a morning stroll. He lazily whipped the ground every few steps to test for traps. When he found one, he knelt beside it to examine its construction before continuing on. The massive wolf Fairy Killer stayed at his side, pacing back and forth impatiently and salivating at the sounds of the fairies below. Acid dripped off his fangs and sizzled against the stone. The beast vibrated with excitement, a predator wanting release, and only Gorath¡¯s steady hand and the crack of his whip prevented it from pursuing its prey. ¡°Rain, that monstrosity is literally named Fairy Killer. It gets a magic boost by eating them,¡± Calista answered, trying not to picture it. ¡°We need to keep that thing away from the fairies. Besides, we need Sapphire and her soldiers to defend our flank, or we¡¯ll be quickly overwhelmed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you know what that word means.¡± Xavier slid down the slope and skidded to a stop in front of Calista. His blade black was stowed in a scabbard at his side. Wolf blood spackled across his face, but he was otherwise unphased after his battle with the wolf pups. ¡°Or are you just using fancy words to sound smart, like you did in high school?¡± Xavier finished. He looked over to Milly, and his self-congratulatory smile faded when he saw her cold glare. ¡°Oh, look ladies. It¡¯s Xavier. The great savior,¡± Calista said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Everyone¡¯s least favorite person. Are you here to help, or do you just want to show us how deep of a hole you can dig with the shovel that is your utter lack of social skills?¡± Xavier¡¯s face fell. He stood there in silence, awkwardly shuffling his feet. He didn¡¯t respond with his usual venom. Had Calista¡¯s insult actually hit home? ¡°I¡¯ve been helping this whole time,¡± Xavier eventually said, thrusting his arm towards the boulders at the top of the slope. ¡°Those four wolves would have done some serious damage to your precious fairy NPCs if I hadn¡¯t killed them. So¡­ you¡¯re welcome. Bitch.¡± ¡°I saw you ride that boulder down the hill. It was very impressive,¡± Rain said with a pleasant customer service tone. ¡°We could use your help, Xavier. Your skills would come be invaluable right now.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ well, at least one of you noticed,¡± Xavier responded, placated. ¡°And of course I am going to help. As if I¡¯m letting you hog all that experience and loot.¡± ¡°There is something wrong with your head, Xavier, if your mind thinks about experience and loot when you see that monstrosity,¡± Calista reproached as she continued to watch the approaching beasts. Gorath reached the crater formed by the exploded Marvin. He lazily picked up a fragment of muskrat fur, rubbed it between his fingers, and flung it away. Beside him, Fairy Killer gave an insistent whine as it slurped its tongue across its teeth. ¡°Something wrong with my head? You¡¯re one to talk. You¡¯re a bully. You were calling Milly ¡®Mil-dead¡¯ only two weeks ago. Remember that, Milly? Remember how awful she was to you?¡± Calista¡¯s eyes flick furiously towards Xavier, and she raised her hand to strike him. Milly caught her arm at its peak and gently lowered it. ¡°Cally, we need his help. Can you just¡­ not¡­ right now?¡± Blood-curdling fairy screams from the edge of the Gathering framed her plea. The first wolves had reached the Gathering, and the first enslaved fairies were already being dragged up the slope, squirming in the iron grips of the wolves. Gorath groaned and cracked his whip, and the beasts renewed their advance. ¡°We need to get that whip,¡± Xavier instructed, pointing his sword towards Gorath. ¡°It¡¯s obviously how Gorath controls the beast. Leave this to me.¡± Xavier started to advance, until Milly grasped his wrist tightly. ¡°Xavier, you are not going to rush in like you did with that centipede,¡± she scolded, her violet eyes flashing. ¡°Rain and Cally, go with Xavier. I¡¯ll distract Fairy Killer.¡± ¡°You are not going to fight that thing alone,¡± Calista exclaimed, her anger at Xavier quickly forgotten. ¡°I won¡¯t let you.¡± Milly uncorked her final mana potion and drank it in a single gulp. The fires of Salem¡¯s Fury blazed within her, magic replenished, and burned away her fear once again. ¡°You¡¯ll get in my way. I¡¯ll lure the beast away. You get that whip. The faster you do, the more fairies we can save. Now stop your bickering and get to work.¡± Milly sprinted towards Fairy Killer, her hands ablaze with fire and air. ¡°She just told me not to rush in,¡± complained Xavier. ¡°When did she become such a hypocrite?¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s not herself when she has Salem¡¯s Fury going,¡± Calista rationalized, though her words were soaked with concern. ¡°She said it feeds on her emotions, like coal shoved into a furnace. It leaves her hollow and cold.¡± Xavier plucked a black ring from his inventory and placed it on his finger. ¡°Yah, I know what that¡¯s like,¡± he muttered. ¡°Well, let¡¯s do this. Calista, try not to get in my way. I¡¯d hate for something to accidentally happen to you.¡± Calista gripped her spear until her knuckles turned white. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, Xavier,¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°You should too.¡± * * * The voices of her girlfriend, friend, and former friend faded away as Milly felt the roar of magic cascade in her blood. It pulsed in her ears, desperate for release. She fixated on the massive wolf, the distance between them growing shorter with each step. Gorath spotted her advance and watched with a curious, predatory grin.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°This is very unusual,¡± Gorath shouted down at her when she was fifty paces away. His voice was gruff and coarse, and slathered in confidence. Beside him, Fairy Killer let out a vicious growl that shook the tiny stones on the ground around it. ¡°We¡¯ve never had a fairy come to us. We usually have to catch our prey. It¡¯s more fun that way, though this approach is not unwelcome. Fairy Killer could use an easy appetizer.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see him try. There are no easier appetizers here,¡± Milly taunted, trying to draw the massive wolf away from Gorath. She mentally reached out to the nearest muskrat, hidden thirty paces away from Gorath. She commanded it to advance on the wolves. Fairy Killer tried to charge at Milly, but Gorath placed a steady hand on its leg, stopping the beast. ¡°You¡¯re a clever little fairy, I¡¯ll give you that. But if you think we¡¯ll be as easy as those pups you slaughtered¡­¡± Gorath picked up a small stone and hurled it sideways at the advancing muskrat, his eyes never leaving Milly. The stone shattered the blue vial in the muskrat¡¯s mouth, and a second later the muskrat exploded. Fractured stone and muskrat flesh rained harmlessly down upon them. Fairy Killer snapped in the air, trying to catch a hunk of flesh. ¡°¡­ you¡¯d best think twice,¡± he finished arrogantly. ¡°You are out of your league.¡± Milly slammed her hands together and her palms crackled with electricity. Gorath smiled and lifted his hand off Fairy Killer¡¯s leg. ¡°Very well. Breakfast is served, Fairy Killer.¡± The massive wolf crashed forward, closing the fifty-pace distance in a single bound. It slammed to the ground directly in front of Milly, shaking the ground as if it had been a bus dropped from a crane. Milly was flung off her feet. She landed hard on her shoulder and lost control of her lightning. It crackled harmlessly into the hillside. Milly cursed as she felt her magic drop, but she had no time to dwell on it. She glanced up just in time to see the gigantic jaws of the wolf plunge to swallow her whole. Channeling air into both hands, she propelled herself away just as its teeth snapped closed. A drop of saliva dripped on her ankle, causing a cigarette-sized burn. Rocks scrapped along Milly¡¯s back as she propelled herself away from the beast. She could feel tiny cuts open across her back and droplets of blood soaked into her dress. She winced to block out the pain. Scrambling to her feet, she began to prepare another lightning blast, but the wolf was too quick. It dashed straight into Milly. Her breath was punched out of her, and she was hurled fifty feet away by the force of the blow. The beast stalked left, readying itself to finish the prone woman. It was interrupted as the Spear of Pinga flew through the air and pierced its muzzle. The spear looked like a tiny thorn compared to its massive body, but the beast still howled with pain and indignation. ¡°Go!¡± Calista shouted to Rain and Xavier, recalling her spear. It ripped itself from Fairy Killer¡¯s body, leaving a trail of blood that ran down its fur. Rain and Xavier dashed past Calista, headed for Gorath. Calista hurled her spear as soon as it returned, this time striking Fairy Killer above its right eye. Blood flowed from the wound into its eye, obscuring its vision. The beast shook its head, trying to clear it away. ¡°Over here, stupid beast,¡± Calista taunted, drawing it away from Rain and Xavier. She arrived at Milly¡¯s side and raised her protective shield just as Fairy Killer leapt at them with bared teeth. It struck the invisible shield hard and thumped to the ground, its momentum abruptly halted. The shield cracked, golden fractures appearing in mid-air. Calista poured her magic into it, and the cracks slowly sealed, one by one. Calista¡¯s brow beaded with sweat from the effort. Fairy Killer¡¯s left fang had split in half from the force of the impact, and it let loose a howl of outrage that could be heard in every corner of the valley. ¡°You were supposed to help the others, Cally¡± Milly yelled above the howl, her hands channeling water and air. She slammed her hands together and created a thick fog within the domed shield to obscure them from Fairy Killer¡¯s sight. ¡°They can handle themselves,¡± Calista replied. ¡°And you and I ¨C we are stronger together. I¡¯m not going to leave you alone.¡± Milly felt herself grow weak ¨C a feeling that had nothing to do with her dwindling magic or her injuries. A blush started to appear on her cheeks, but the feeling was consumed in Salem¡¯s Fury¡¯s fire. Fairy Killer stood above the clouded dome formed by Calista¡¯s shield and Milly¡¯s fog and gave an angry growl. It wrapped its mouth over the top of the dome and began to squeeze, as if it were a dog with a tennis ball. Calista strained to keep the shield together. Cracks formed across its surface, faster than she could repair. Her magic plummeted. ¡°Love, I can¡¯t hold this for long,¡± Calista wheezed, straining to keep the shield from shattering. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°Just keep it up for a little longer. I¡¯ve called for help,¡± Milly said. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the vicious jaws only a few feet above them. She could taste its breath in the air and hear the sizzle of its acidic saliva. A tiny scratching sound, like a cat outside a door, reached Milly¡¯s ears. Help had arrived. ¡°Cally, can you open up the back of the shield?¡± ¡°Shit!¡± Calista shouted as Fairy Killer crunched down hard on the dome. Golden cracks spread across it like a shattered windshield. The first drop of saliva fell through its protection and struck Calista¡¯s shoulder. She gritted her teeth as the acid soaked into her tunic and sizzled against her flesh. ¡°If I do, this whole thing will collapse.¡± ¡°Do it!¡± Milly shouted. The gap formed behind them and Milly felt fur brush against her legs. As the protective shield shattered, she embraced her girlfriend tightly and pushed them backwards with a blast of air. They flew out of the dense fog just as Fairy Killer bit down where they had once been. It found something it was not expecting. The beast snapped in the air as it tried to get rid of the awful taste that had entered its mouth. They skidded to a stop forty paces away from the beast, and Milly grinned when she caught a glimpse of the fur in its mouth. ¡°What? Milly, what did you¡­¡± Calista started. ¡°One Rain Special, coming up,¡± Milly quipped. Gertrude, the undead muskrat lodged between Fairy Killer¡¯s back teeth, bit down on her blue vial. The resulting explosion engulfed Fairy Killer¡¯s head. It snapped back violently, flames spewed from its mouth. Fragments of tongue and chunks of teeth fell out of its mouth as it staggered backward. A charred smell filled the air. ¡°Did¡­ did you just call me¡­ love?¡± Milly asked as they watched the wolf collapse to the ground. ¡°What?¡± Calista said, staring at the beast. It took a second for Milly¡¯s words to sink in, and when they did, her response came out in a jumble. ¡°Oh¡­ um¡­ maybe? I guess I did. It just came out. I¡¯m still mad at you, so don¡¯t think that I¡¯m not. And is this really the right time to talk about this?¡± Butterflies fluttered in Milly¡¯s stomach. She was about to respond ¨C though she had no idea what to say ¨C when Fairy Killer started to move. ¡°It can¡¯t still be alive,¡± Calista gasped as the beast rose to its feet. The fur on its face was charred black and part of its right cheek had been blown apart. Half its tongue was missing. It tried to howl, but all that emerged was a pained wheeze. The beast fixed its gaze on Milly and Calista. It backed away from them cautiously. Despite its injuries, there was no fear in its eyes. Only reluctance, as if it had suddenly realized it had chased down a porcupine, rather than a mouse. The beast¡¯s eyes glowed blue. ¡°It¡­ it can¡¯t¡­,¡± Milly sputtered. She watched in horror as its tongue began to reform and its skin changed from black to red. Its cheeks sewed themselves together. New teeth sprouted from its gums, and the damaged teeth clinked to the ground. ¡°It can heal itself?¡± Calista gasped in disbelief. She hurled her spear into the beast¡¯s chest as it healed, but the damage healed faster than it took to recall her spear. The blue in Fairy Killer¡¯s eyes faded. In a matter of seconds, it had healed nearly all of its injuries. There were a few missing teeth, and a few remaining holes in its cheeks that caused a faint whistling noise when it breathed, but it was whole once more. ¡°I think it is out of magic,¡± Milly said, channeling fire into her fist. ¡°We can still do this, Cally. Get ready. We¡­¡± The screams of fairies and the fevered shouts of wolves from the Gathering drew Fairy Killer¡¯s attention. It bared its teeth, a hungry and desperate look in its eyes, and bounded towards the sounds. It gave Milly and Calista a wide berth, apprehensive of the prey that had done it such harm. Calista¡¯s hurled spear fell short as it bounded straight for the Bazaar. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s too fast,¡± Calista swore, catching her returning spear. ¡°Milly, it replenishes its magic by eating fairies. It¡¯ll be able to heal itself again and again. It¡¯ll be unstoppable.¡± Milly glanced up towards Xavier and Rain, but the area was now covered in a cloud of darkness. ¡°We need that whip to stop it. Let¡¯s go help Rain and Xavier.¡± Chapter 54 - Unique Beast: Gorath "Desperation is sometimes as powerful as inspirer as genius." Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman The end of the whip tore into Xavier¡¯s cheek, burning as it sliced flesh. The strike was so quick that Xavier hardly registered it before he felt its sting. Retreating out of Gorath¡¯s range to avoid a second strike, he touched the throbbing flesh, and his hand came back bloody. ¡°I¡¯m going to make you pay for that,¡± hissed Xavier, his frustration growing. The wolf had dodged or deflected every one of Xavier¡¯s attacks with minimal effort. ¡°No, you won¡¯t. You have power, but you lack patience. This makes you predictable,¡± Gorath mocked, as if he were a teacher with a failing student. ¡°You need to take lessons from your friend.¡± Rain had arched wide around Gorath, beyond the edge of his vision, as he engaged Xavier. Coming in from behind, she thrust her dagger towards Gorath¡¯s exposed back. A single prick would get the poison into his blood. A single prick would slow him down. Gorath lazily side-stepped Rain¡¯s lunge, moving just enough that the dagger passed harmlessly through his fur without touching skin. The quick movement threw Rain off balance, and as she stumbled Gorath kicked her square in the ribs. Rain screamed in pain as the kick shattered three of her ribs and she was thrown backwards. She landed hard ten feet from Gorath, writhing in pain and struggling to breathe. ¡°See, your companion is smart. She uses distractions ¨C that¡¯s you, by the way ¨C to create vulnerabilities in her prey¡¯s defenses. If she were a wolf, she would make a half-decent assassin,¡± Gorath lectured as he casually dissected their battle. He was toying with them, and it infuriated Xavier to his core. Rain opened her inventory and pulled out a red vial. Popping the cork, she drank its contents in a single gulp. Her breathing stabilized, and she slowly got to her feet, her forehead beaded with sweat. ¡°Smart and versatile. Was that a Potion of Dull Pain? Brewed from birch bark and Panicled Aster flowers, yes? We have alchemists in the clan who can create such concoctions. I dabbled with it myself, but it was not my true calling,¡± Gorath remarked. ¡°The clan can always use more alchemists. I think I¡¯ll capture you for a slave when I have tired with you.¡± Rain spat a mouthful of blood and held her dagger at the ready, watching Gorath intently. She slowly moved her offhand inside the pocket of her tailcoat and grasped a vial. ¡°Not you though,¡± Gorath added, shifting his gaze back to Xavier. ¡°We¡¯ve got enough hotheads in the clan already. Now, I don¡¯t want to miss out on the fun down below, so let¡¯s put a quick end to this, yes?¡± Gorath stepped towards Xavier, hungry for the kill, and drew his whip behind him to strike. He did not get the chance. At that moment, an explosion rocked the battlefield as Gertrude, the undead muskrat, exploded in Fairy Killer¡¯s mouth. Gorath staggered, and he saw Fairy Killer spew fire from its mouth and collapse to the ground. His eyes grew wide with surprise, and he snarled when he saw Milly and Calista survived. Rain seized the opportunity. ¡°Xavier, now!¡± she shouted, as she drew the Potion of Darkness from her pocket and hurled it at Gorath¡¯s feet. The bottle shattered and a billowing cloud of utter blackness spiraled outwards, quickly engulfing a ten-foot radius around the wolf. Xavier¡¯s eyes flashed black as he activated his Quick Strike talent, and a dark halo encompassed his feet. He angled his blade down and shot into the darkness like a bullet, slicing upwards. Gorath screamed, and a moment later Xavier emerged on the other side of the darkness, his blade bloody. He held Gorath¡¯s whip in his hand, which had two of Gorath¡¯s severed fingers still attached to the handle. ¡°You are full of shit, Gorath,¡± Xavier said triumphantly. He plucked Gorath¡¯s fingers off the whip and casually flicked them into a nearby bush. ¡°I am more powerful than you know. I selected the Shadow Reaper class when I hit level twenty, which increases my strength and speed in the darkness. I am stronger and faster than¡­¡± An iron dagger flew out of the darkness. Before Xavier could react, the dagger was imbedded deep in his shoulder. Xavier¡¯s painful shriek echoed along the valley as his arm was rendered useless. His hand opened and he dropped the whip. Before the whip had even struck the ground, Gorath dashed out of the darkness and punched Xavier squarely beneath his chin with a three-fingered, bloodied fist. Xavier was knocked off his feet by the force of the wallop. Gorth leapt kicked him in the stomach in mid-air, his motions smooth and practiced. Xavier spat blood as he was launched backwards. He landed hard on his wounded shoulder and the blade was pushed in deeper. Xavier¡¯s second scream was louder than the first. Xavier tried to scramble to his feet as he clenched his teeth against the pain, but Gorath was on him in an instant. The wolf grabbed him by the shoulders and slowly and maliciously twisted the imbedded dagger. As Xavier screamed again, Gorath gripped Xavier¡¯s head with his mangled paw and slammed his head hard into the stony path. Xavier¡¯s head spun as he struggled to react. He was vaguely aware of the crack that had formed in the back of his skull, but his thoughts were growing foggy. He awkwardly tried to raise his sword to defend himself. Gorath casually batted the sword away and slammed Xavier head into the stone again and again until Xavier lay there, unmoving and struggling to stay conscious. Blood soaked the stone from his cracked skull. ¡°A Shadow Reaper?¡± Gorath spat furiously, wiping his bloody fingers on Xavier¡¯s shirt. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the Hands of Death, boy. You are not one of them. I¡¯m going to enjoy tearing you apart, piece by piece.¡± Xavier forced his eyes open and gave Gorath a weak smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he taunted weakly, blood spilling from his mouth with each syllable. ¡°I¡¯m going to start with your tongue,¡± Gorath decided, placing his hook hand against Xavier¡¯s lips. ¡°Then I won¡¯t have to listen to you speak, you arrogant little¡­¡± An intense pain ended Gorath¡¯s taunting, as Rain slid her dagger into Gorath¡¯s back. The blade pierced a lung, and Gorath released a hollow gasp. Rain struck with all the strength she could muster, then yanked the dagger free and stabbed him again and again. With each piercing strike, the Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach flooded more of its poison into Gorath¡¯s body. Gorath desperately reached behind him as he fought to dislodge her from his back. His claws encircled Rain¡¯s upper thigh, and his razor claws pressed into Rain¡¯s flesh. Five puncture wounds appeared and began to leak blood down her pale leg. Rain tried to block out the pain as she continued to strike with her dagger. She did not want him to hear her scream. The dagger¡¯s gem was nearly emptied of its poison, quickly returning to its milky white. She did not get a chance to strike the final blow. Gorath¡¯s arm tensed as he ripped his claws straight down Rain¡¯s leg, cutting her from thigh to ankle. Strips of flesh were peeled from her skin and her leg was split open in five straight cuts that carved down to the bone. She screamed then, the pain eclipsing both her enhanced toughness and Potion of Dull Pain. Her hands began to shake, and she felt her stomach turn. She glimpsed down at her lacerated leg, now little more than strips of mangled flesh clinging to bone. Gorath¡¯s claws had ripped through skin, muscles, and tendons, and blood poured from the wounds onto the stone below. Gorath wrapped his claws around Rain¡¯s ankle and twisted sharply. Rain felt her ankle snap, and she let out another blood curdling shriek. Despite his injuries and the poison, Gorath hurled Rain away from him by her ankle. She struck a boulder at the edge of the path, her breath forced from her lungs as another rib shattered.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Come on, Rain. Come on,¡± she whimpered desperately. She tried to stand, but immediately collapsed. Her ankle was snapped at an unnatural angle and her left leg was useless. Her leg was growing numb, and she struggled to keep her eyes open as her vision began to spin. Gorath hoisted himself off Xavier, his fur drenched in his own blood. He swayed on his feet as the poison spread within him, but his eyes were wild with uncontained fury. Foaming at the mouth, as if he were a dog with rabies, he reached down and grabbed his whip with his mangled hand. ¡°I¡¯m going to flay the flesh from your bones,¡± Gorath spat at Rain, his words slurred as the poison spread. Rain opened her inventory to find something ¨C anything ¨C to help, only should couldn¡¯t focus on the pictures on the screen. Her head was spinning, and she felt like she might pass out at any moment. The effort made her want to vomit. Gorath took his first step towards Rain. Xavier used the last of his strength to wrap his feet around Gorath leg to hold him in place. ¡°Forget¡­ her. We¡­ aren¡¯t finished¡­ yet,¡± Xavier spat out through gritted teeth, desperately holding onto a sliver of consciousness. He reached blindly for the sword Gorath had knocked away, but his hands found only bare earth. Gorath swung his unhindered leg and kicked Xavier hard in the chest. Xavier¡¯s ribs snapped from the force of the blow. He was thrown ten feet away, and when he landed, he lay there face down and unmoving. Gorath resumed his advance on Rain. His movements were slow and unsteady from both blood loss and the poison now moving to his organs. His passage was marked by a trail of blood behind him from severed fingers and perforated back. Rain reached into her inventory randomly, and her hand closed around the rusted dagger she had taken from the Castle of Glass lobby. Her starting dagger felt so weak in her hands, as if it could snap at any moment. She knew it would not be enough to stop the hulking monster advancing towards her. Rain¡¯s bravery snapped and fear took hold of her. She tried to scramble backwards, but she could do little more than worm her way along the stones. ¡°I¡¯m going to start by tearing out those pretty little eyes,¡± Gorath taunted his helpless prey. He drew back his whip. Rain braced herself and shut her eyes. ¡°Rain!¡± Hope soared within Rain as she opened her eyes in time to see Calista and Milly emerge from the cloud of darkness. Gorath struck. The whip collided with the shield Calista had hastily erected between Rain and Gorath. The weak, incomplete shield was shattered instantly by the force of the blow, but it was enough to shift the whip¡¯s momentum towards the ground a few inches away from Rain¡¯s ear. Calista hurled her spear at the surprised wolf, who snarled and jumped backwards to dodge. The Spear of Pinga missed by a foot, but he was thrown off balance. He didn¡¯t have time to recover before Milly¡¯s lightning caught him full in the chest, hurling him away from Rain. The whip fell from his grip as the smell of scorched flesh filled the air. ¡°Rain!¡± Milly shouted again as she rushed to her friend¡¯s side. ¡°Oh my god, Rain. Don¡¯t worry, okay? I¡¯ve got you. Oh god¡­¡±. Her last sentence came out as a whisper as she stared in horror at Rain¡¯s shredded leg and shattered ankle. Milly¡¯s hands glowed healing blue and she pressed them against Rain¡¯s thigh. Rain gave an involuntary hiss of pain despite the growing numbness. The bleeding slowed as her healing accelerated the clotting, but Milly felt her magic plummet from the effort. Her magic attribute was high, but she only knew her Healer¡¯s Touch spell, and it was not powerful enough to heal this serious of a wound. ¡°Shit. Rain, this¡­ this is bad. We need to get you to Whitewing. Cally, grab Xavier,¡± Milly instructed. She continued to pour her magic into Rain, trying to stem the worst of the bleeding before she picked her up. She felt her magic plummet. She knew she should save her magic. There was a horde of wolves coming for them. It did not matter. All that mattered to her right now was saving Rain. Calista rushed over to Xavier¡¯s side and pressed two fingers to his neck. ¡°He¡¯s alive, Milly. But he¡¯s in bad shape. His skull is cracked open and he¡¯s struggling to breathe.¡± Calista recalled her spear, then hoisted Xavier onto her shoulders. His weight was nearly unnoticeable with her enhanced strength. Milly grabbed the whip and stashed it in her inventory. She let her healing magic fade. Her reserves were nearly empty, and the fire of Salem¡¯s fury had diminished to a tiny flame on the verge of being extinguished. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rain. This is all I can do,¡± she apologized to Rain, unable to conceal her apprehension at Rain¡¯s condition. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Milly,¡± Rain mumbled bravely. ¡°Whitewing can¡­ Mils, behind you.¡± Her warning was no louder than a whisper, but Milly glanced up just in time to see Gorath barreling towards her. His chest was nothing more than blackened flesh, his fur having been burned away by the lightning. Blood and foam dripped out of his mouth as the poison reached his heart, brain, and tongue. He staggered as he ran, staying upright through sheer force of will. The vicious predator growled like a wild animal, all semblance of intelligence gone. Milly glimpsed Xavier¡¯s black blade lying on the ground, and, with the last of her magic, she reached out with her telekinesis. Catching it by the hilt, she braced herself and held the blade horizontal moments before the wolf reached her. Gorath skewered himself on its shaft. His eyes filled with shock as he looked down at the dark metal now penetrating him through the heart and out his back. He gripped the blade weakly, slicing open his hands as he tried to push himself off the blade, but Milly held fast with her enhanced strength. Milly gasped in surprise. The blade began to drain Gorath¡¯s life away, his lifeforce flowing into its metal. It was as if the blade were feeding on Gorath blood and soul. Gorath¡¯s essence traveled from blade to hilt, and Milly felt a tingling sensation as the energy flowed from the hilt into her fingers and throughout her body. It was both a pleasurable and desperate sensation, as if the blade were a parched man drinking from a river. She shivered as Gorath¡¯s essence was converted within her and began to refill her magic reserves. She felt replenished. Gripping the hilt tighter, she willed the blade to keep drinking. She felt Salem¡¯s Fury returning to full power. Her eyes fluttered as she felt the power inside her, and all she could feel was Gorath¡¯s life draining into her own. Her magic reserves were nearly full when the last light in Gorath¡¯s eyes died. His face had been drained of color and was now a deathly gray. He slumped over, now dead weight with nothing left to give. Only then, when the final spark of life left him, did Milly release her grip and let the blade fall, still embedded in his corpse. ¡°Milly¡­ Honey? Are you okay?¡± Calista said, standing at her side. Xavier was draped over her shoulders. Milly had not seen her approach. She didn¡¯t know how long it had taken for Gorath to die. She had lost her sense of the world around her. All she had known was the essence flowing into her. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine, Cally,¡± she said, shaking her head to break from her trance. ¡°Get Xavier to Whitewing. I¡¯m right behind you.¡± Fairy screams accentuated the urgency in her words. Calista started heading towards Whitewing, Xavier¡¯s limp body bouncing on her shoulder as she ran. Milly grabbed the black blade and yanked it from Gorath¡¯s corpse. It slid out cleanly, without a trace of blood on its blade. She glanced over at Xavier¡¯s unconscious body headed towards the healer¡¯s seonangdang, then turned away from him and added the blade to her inventory. ¡°He¡¯ll¡­ want it¡­ back,¡± Rain said weakly, clinging to consciousness. She lifted her arms towards Milly as if she were a toddler. Her legs lay uselessly beneath her, and she sat in a pool of her own blood. Milly grasped Rain¡¯s arms. Lifting carefully, Milly carried her over her shoulder, legs dangling over Milly¡¯s chest. Rain¡¯s blood soaked into Milly dress, and Milly used some of her newly replenished magic to resume trying to stop Rain¡¯s bleeding as she sped towards the seonangdang. She resolved to select a more advanced healing talent as soon as she was able. ¡°I know,¡± Milly said with concern. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure we should give it back. There¡¯s something wrong with him. Something more than normal, I mean.¡± Rain struggled to keep her eyes open. ¡°Won¡¯t matter if¡­ we don¡¯t win¡­ this Arena. Was hoping¡­ Gorath and Fairy Killer¡¯s deaths¡­ would have ended it. ¡°We didn¡¯t beat Fairy Killer,¡± Milly said, staring up at the corrupted Arena dome. ¡°We injured it, but it healed itself and he ran towards the bazaar.¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­ going after it?¡± Rain asked, matter-of-factly. Her voice was increasingly weak as she teetered on the edge of consciousness. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s still our best guess on what the victory condition is for this Arena.¡± Her eyes were drawn to the bottom of her spectacles, hoping for some sign from Luna. There was none. Milly¡¯s heart dropped, and the sounds of dying fairies filled her ears. Come on, Luna. What¡¯s taking so long? We¡¯re fighting blind. ¡°I don¡¯t think¡­ I¡¯ll be much help,¡± Rain said as the pain overwhelmed her. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry, Mils.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll protect you, Rain,¡± Milly promised. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you all.¡± ¡°Even¡­ Xavier? He¡­ tried to¡­ save me. He¡¯s¡­ not all¡­¡± Rain mumbled, but she lost consciousness before she could finish. Milly rushed towards the seonangdang, leaving the question hanging in the air, unanswered.
Congratulations! Your party has defeated Gorath the Alpha. Your party has been awarded 15,000 experience points. Milly Brown has leveled up twice. Four attribute points and a class talent point (The Scarred Witch) acquired. Calista Gale has leveled up three times. Six attribute points and a talent point acquired. Class selection unlocked. Rain Desjarlais has leveled up three times. Six attribute points and a talent point acquired. Class selection unlocked. Xavier Holloway has leveled up. Two attribute points and a class talent point (Shadow Reaper) acquired. Items Acquired: The fingers of Gorath the Alpha (unique ingredient) Gold Acquired: 4,000
Chapter 55 - The Patch "Computers are like Old Testament Gods; lots of rules and no mercy." Joseph Campbell, American Author Whitewing wore a grim expression as she studied Rain and Xavier¡¯s injuries. Healers hovered over their unconscious forms, muttering in disbelief as they slowly stemmed the worst of their bleeding. ¡°How are they still alive?¡± ¡°Even wolves would have perished from that.¡± ¡°Maybe Nobori was telling the truth.¡± ¡°Your friends are strong,¡± Whitewing said with authority, silencing the gossip. ¡°Most fairies wouldn¡¯t have survived what they endured.¡± Whitewing knelt beside one of Sapphire¡¯s warriors and closed his eyes with her fingers, whispering a silent prayer over his empty form. Calista placed a supportive hand on her shoulder, then stepped outside the seonangdang and left the healer to tend the growing number of wounded. Fairies were starting to trickle in from the Gathering, led by the guides Calista had sent into danger. Milly breathed a sigh of relief when Nobori emerged from the path along the shore, guiding the Lost Foals and Floating Leaf Skulk towards their defensive line. ¡°You did well, Nobori,¡± Milly praised. Spotting a gash across his left paw, Milly held it in her hand and healed it. ¡°There you go. Good as new.¡± ¡°Thank you, Goddess. Now I must find the others,¡± Nobori said respectfully. He gave her a quick bow and dashed back along the shoreline trail and into the battle. ¡°I¡¯m not a¡­¡± Milly protested, but Nobori had already disappeared behind the trees. Elders Twotongue and Lightpaw had arrived with their tribes and were now moving their children and elderly underneath the light of the seonangdang. The children scurried up the branches as high as they could go, while the elders settled in around the trunk and helped tend the wounded. ¡°I¡¯m glad you are safe,¡± Calista said with genuine relief. Over the past several days, she¡¯d grown close to Twotongue, and Lightpaw had supported her at the Elder¡¯s Council. ¡°We were lucky,¡± Twotongue admitted. ¡°We gathered our tribes at the shore of the lake. When the wolves descended from the southern slopes, we were fleeing here when Nobori found us.¡± ¡°The other tribes were not warned of the danger,¡± Lightpaw added. The elderly fox, who had been so stoic at the Elders Council, held in a simmering anger. ¡°Only Sapphire believed your pleas and prepared her people. The other elders dismissed your concerns, and didn¡¯t tell their tribes of the danger. Their xenophobia will be their undoing.¡± ¡°It may be all of our undoing,¡± Calista mumbled. Fox scouts led two small groups of fairies safely behind their lines, but for every one that reached them, four more had been dragged up the southern slopes as newly captured slaves. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before the wolves find us here,¡± Calista said. ¡°Elders, I need you to¡­¡± Before she could finish, a bright light erupted above the giant obsidian in the Lake of Memories. The light exploded into fine, golden dust that fell over the dark corruption on the dome and dissolved it like an industrial cleanser. The first rays of morning light broke through and illuminated the valley¡¯s floor, reflecting off dew that hung delicately on the leaves. A tiny message scrolled across the bottom of Milly¡¯s glasses as Tutoria¡¯s voice boomed out over the Arena. ¡°Update complete.¡± Tutoria¡¯s voice came through crystal clear from the sky above the obsidian, the roar of the battle relegated to background noise. ¡°On behalf of the AI Director, I would like to extend our sincere apologies for the small bug in the Arena of Protection. Rest assured that the problems have been resolved. As compensation, prizes for successful completion of the Arena will be adjusted to¡­¡± ¡°Just tell us how to win this fucking Arena, Tutoria!¡± Calista shouted at the invisible guide with every ounce of impatience she could muster. The two Elders stared at Calista with shock. They can¡¯t hear Tutoria. Only the players can. They have no idea this is part of a game. Luna, what the hell is going on? ¡°There¡¯s no need to be rude, Calista. We are getting there. Now that the win conditions are patched, we can resume.¡± A timer appeared on the obsidian slab, set to ten minutes. ¡°This is a points-based Arena. Your goal is to protect the fairies from the onslaught of the wolves. There are one thousand, two hundred and fourteen fairies at the Gathering. When the timer reaches zero, there must be a minimum of three hundred fairies left alive to be victorious. Bonus points may be earned by exceeding this goal or accomplishing side quests within the Arena. After ten minutes, if the players are alive and the goal completed, rewards will be calculated based on your accumulated points. Please consult the running tally for progress.¡± A player screen popped up in front of Milly and Calista.
Time Remaining: 10:00 Total Fairies: 1,214 Fairies Enslaved: 172 Fairies Murdered: 194 Fairies Under Seonangdangs: 63 Remaining Fairies: 785
As they read the cold, horrifying statistics, the ¡®Fairies Enslaved¡¯ count increased by one as a tattooed wolf dragged an elderly fairy beyond the Arena¡¯s dome. ¡°You¡­ you sadistic asshole!¡± shouted Calista. ¡°You and that AI Director. These are intelligent, kind people. You can¡¯t just throw away their lives for the entertainment of mad gods.¡± ¡°Calista, this is the God Contest,¡± Tutoria said, as if she were a mother scolding a child. ¡°Monsters die. Fairies die. Players die. You need to accept that if you want to survive. Now, if I may continue?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Calista shook with anger. ¡°Just get on with it, you monster,¡± Calista said through gritted teeth. She held her bitter retort, knowing every second was paid for in fairy lives. ¡°Thank you, Calista. You are as reasonable as you are even tempered,¡± Tutoria said sarcastically. ¡°Now, there are two side quests available. You see, the Wolves of the Silver Lakes have brought with them two powerful, unique beasts ¨C Gorath the Alpha and Fairy Killer. You may earn bonus points by¡­¡± Tutoria paused. Milly imagined the guide¡¯s invisible gaze slowly turn towards Gorath¡¯s broken body that lay on the eastern path. ¡°Oh. Well, I¡¯ll just add those bonus points now, shall I? You¡¯ve been busy while we patched. Well done, players! I¡¯m certain your battle was marvelous entertainment for the gods.¡± There was a distant whirl followed by a sharp ding, as if an old punch card computer had finished a calculation. ¡°Now, you¡¯d better get back to the battle and save some fairies, or those bonus points won¡¯t count. On behalf of the AI Director, I thank you again for your patience. Good luck, players.¡± Tutoria¡¯s voice faded away, and the sounds of the battle returned to their all-consuming volume. ¡°I don¡¯t like this version of Tutoria,¡± Calista spat as she returned her attention to the battlefield. She addressed the Elders. ¡°Lightpaw and Twotongue, get your children and those unable to fight under the healer¡¯s seonangdang. Anyone willing should join the defensive line alongside Sapphire¡¯s warriors.¡± Twotongue waved over Tentongue, who arrived with Passiflora at his side. With her own tribe extinguished, the Tentongue and the Lost Foals were all she had left. ¡°Tentongue, I need you to take care of the children. Climb as high as you can, and do not leave the tree¡¯s light for any reason. Do you understand?¡± Twotongue instructed. ¡°Umm¡­ yes, Elder,¡± Tentongue replied. He was putting on a brave face, but fear reflected deep in his eyes as sudden responsibility was thrust towards him. He rushed towards the seonangdang, shouting high-pitched, shaky orders to the children in the tree. ¡°Elders, you should also take shelter¡­¡± Calista began. ¡°No,¡± interjected the Elders in unison. ¡°We will help with the fight,¡± said Lightpaw. ¡°There is still strength in these old bones, and precious little space under the seonangdang. Saving our children ¨C the future of our tribes ¨C must be priority.¡± Calista did not argue. They didn¡¯t have time to argue. A group of four fairies burst from the Gathering, pursued by twin wolf predators. The wolves fell upon the limping fairy that had fallen behind. Dragging it to the ground, they tore him apart with teeth and claws as the others crossed Sapphire¡¯s defensive line. The ¡®Fairies Killed¡¯ stat on Milly¡¯s screen ticked up by one. The Spear of Pinga flew towards the beasts, Calista close behind. Sapphire bellowed to three of her warriors, who advanced. Milly began to follow, but she was stopped by a tiny hand that grasped at her gown. It was Passiflora. The young fairy girl looked up at Milly with pleading eyes, her face filled with terror. ¡°I¡­ I want to fight,¡± Passiflora insisted, yet her eyes flickered to the seonangdang, each glance heightening her fear. Milly felt the tingle in her spine as Ceaseless Skepticism activated. Lie. She doesn¡¯t want to fight. She¡¯s scared to death of the seonangdang. Milly glanced at the source of her fear. Xavier lay beneath its light, unconscious and tended by Whitewing¡¯s healers. No, she¡¯s not scared of the seonangdang. It¡¯s Xavier. She¡¯s more scared of him than all the wolves. Xavier, what did you do to her? ¡°See that shelter?¡± Milly said as she knelt at the girl¡¯s side and pointed towards the northern edge of their battlefield. ¡°I have a job for you, Passiflora. I need you to keep an eye on the northern hills. If you see anything, let the strike group know and then run away, okay? You run and you hide, and don¡¯t come out until all this is over. Can you do that for me?¡± ¡°Yes, Witch,¡± Passiflora agreed with a squeak. ¡°Good girl. Now hurry along.¡± I¡¯m going to find out what you did to her, Xavier. And when I do¡­ Milly watched Passiflora scurry away, leaving her thought unfinished. As Passiflora ducked out of sight, Milly rushed towards Calista. Back into war. * * * Calista, Sapphire, and her warriors had dispatched the two wolves by the time Milly arrived, though not without cost. Two monkeys carried one of Sapphire¡¯s warriors towards the seonangdang. Raked across the gills by wolf claws, the fairy clutched his throat as he struggled for breath. Milly stepped towards the fairy, her hands glowing blue, but Sapphire grasped her arm tightly. ¡°Save your magic, Witch. You¡¯ll do more good fighting than playing healer,¡± Sapphire insisted, her words cold and calculated. ¡°Every death you bring to the wolves is fewer monster to bring death upon us.¡± Witch. A bringer of death. Is that who I am now? Is that who I want to be? Calista¡¯s gripped the shaft of her spear and yanked it from the wolf corpse. The air around them was heavy with the tang of blood. They could see the shadows of wolves in morning light moving in the nearby trees and hunted fairies trying to reach the safety of Sapphire¡¯s line. ¡°Milly, we need to¡­¡± Calista started. The ground began to rumble under their feet. Fairy Killer erupted from the edge of the Bazaar. The massive beast shattered trees as it bounded into view. Fully healed, it clutched three struggling fairies in its mouth. Milly watched in horror as Fairy Killer¡¯s tongue wrapped around its victims and drew them back onto its molars. The sight of their silent, terrified pleas burned into Milly¡¯s memory like a cattle brand. The beast closed its maw, and the fairies were crushed. Bones snapped as the beast chewed, and when he swallowed their remains its eyes grew bright with replenished magic. Milly smashed her hands together, a lightning bolt coming to life. Her anger engulfed all other emotions as Salem¡¯s Fury flared, hatred for the beast acting as gas poured on internal fire. Fairy Killer saw the flash of the lightning. It tilted its head curiously to the side, then it bounded away with a single leap, deciding on pursuing easier prey. Milly cursed, frustrated at being flat-footed. She rushed to intercept the beast, but Calista held her back. ¡°I know you want to go after it, love. I do too,¡± Calista said sagely. ¡°But we barely survived our first encounter with it. We need to focus on saving as many fairies as we can.¡± ¡°But¡­,¡± whispered Milly, frustrated. The fire of Salem¡¯s Fury urged her to pursue the beast, but she knew Calista was right. A fox mother cradling her kit in her arms stumbled from the trees, pursued by a lone wolf that tackled them to the ground. Milly pointed and released her lightning into its face from fifty paces away. The crackle echoed across the valley as the wolf hurled backwards and lodged in the crook of a poplar tree. Only scolded flesh remain where its head had once been. The mother and kit clutched their ears in pain from the crackle as Sapphire¡¯s warriors carried them behind the protective line. How many fairies are safe with us? Less than half of the three hundred we need, and how many of our defenders will die before the timer reaches zero? ¡°Cally,¡± started Milly, and Calista had the same thought. ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± she agreed. ¡°Sapphire, can your people hold the line if the wolves attack in force?¡± Sapphire looked doubtful. ¡°If fairies had the strength to hold against wolves, we would not be here today. They are predators. We are prey, as loathed as I am to admit that. We can hold out against a wolf or two, though even those will take their toll. If they attacked in force? The only thing to slow them down would be our corpses.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± Calista spat. She opened her screen and read the timer. Eight minutes, thirteen seconds. ¡°I wish Rain were here. Hell, I¡¯d settle for Xavier right now.¡± She took a deep breath, her eyes set with resolve. ¡°Milly, stay here and help Sapphire hold this line. No, don¡¯t argue with me,¡± Calista said, cutting off Milly¡¯s protest. ¡°If the wolves attack in force, my spear and my shield aren¡¯t going to make the difference. Only your magic can.¡± ¡°Cally, I don¡¯t want you out there alone,¡± Milly protested, as a sudden burst of fear broke through the consumption Salem¡¯s Fury¡¯s fires. She needed Calista by her side, where she could protect her. What if something happened to her? How could I live with myself, knowing I could have been there to save her? Milly had lived her whole life in the depths of loneliness. It had surrounded her like a friend and cut her off from the world, until she had been dragged to a new one. Until she had Calista. After all these years, she finally had someone she cared for. Someone she loved. The thought of losing Calista made Milly feel sick to her stomach. And how do you think she felt when you ran off on your own? The revelation hit Milly like a ton of bricks. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. And don¡¯t think this means I¡¯m not still mad at you. You¡¯re getting an earful when this is over,¡± Calista said, leaning in so only Milly could hear. Calista placed a finger under Milly¡¯s chin and lifted it slightly. With a gentle, loving kiss that promised more to come, she whispered ¡°Wish me luck¡±. She didn¡¯t wait for Milly¡¯s response as she rushed into the Gathering. Into the heart of the fray. ¡°Good¡­ good luck¡­,¡± Milly whispered as she watched Calista disappear into the trees. Only the wind heard her words. Chapter 56 - Hold the Line "We must build dykes of courage to hold back the floor of fear." Martin Luther King Jr., American Activist Calista bolted through the Gathering, headed for the nearest seonangdang. The deeper she went, the more bodies littered the ground at her feet, and she forced herself from staring lest she see a fairy she knew. The air filled with smoke as untended cooking fires spread into brush, fanned by wolves who tossed generations-old treasures into the flames. The wolves did not act as an army, as the goblins had at the Battle of Tower Beach. They roamed the Gathering in small packs as they hunted down fairies and howled with sadistic delight. These were not soldiers. They were confident predators, infected with a sense of invulnerability, who enjoyed chase and cruelty as much as the kill. ¡°That¡¯s their mistake,¡± Calista spat angrily, her eyes flaring. ¡°They¡¯re not the only hunters in here.¡± The first seonangdang came into sight. At the edge of its light, four wolves had surrounded a winged fairy mother and her two toddlers. The mother lay on the ground, one of her wings ripped off and casually dropped at her feet. Her arms were curled protectively around her two children as the wolves began to slowly tear off her second wing. ¡°Anastia! Oh, god, please no!¡± shouted an elderly fairy who had taken shelter beneath the seonangdang ¨C the fairy¡¯s mother, given the similar pink and green patterns in their wings. A teenaged frog-fairy held the elderly woman tight as she desperately tried to reach her daughter beyond the seonangdang¡¯s light. In her blind panic, she showed strength beyond her years and inched closer despite the teenager¡¯s attempts to hold her back. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can do, Grandmother Rena,¡± shouted the young frog desperately, his webbed feet brushing the seonangdang¡¯s light. The other fairies beneath its light simply watched, frozen in place for fear the grandmother would doom them as well if they tried to intervene. A grey wolf with white fur separated from the pack and waited at the edge of the seonangdang, licking its lips with anticipation. Fueled by impatience, it reached out to drag the grandmother and grandson from beneath its protection. The beast¡¯s claws struck the light, and the seonangdang sent a small shock up the wolf¡¯s arm, as if it had touched an electric fence. Unable to cross its barrier, the wolf rubbed it paw in annoyance. It didn¡¯t get another chance. A second later, the Spear of Pinga pierced the wolf through its throat. Every fairy within the seonangdang stared on in utter shock as Calista recalled her spear and the wolf¡¯s throat was torn out with its return. The wolf¡¯s body collapsed against the protective light, its sparks cascading over the wolf''s corpse. The remaining pack ceased their torment of the fairy mother and followed the spear¡¯s trajectory back to Calista¡¯s palm. The mother lay on the ground, her remaining wing held by the pack leaders and half ripped from her back. Her crying toddlers poked at their unmoving mother¡¯s face as her grip on them began to weaken. Calista caught her spear mid-charge and leapt the remaining ten paces into the middle of the pack. She protectively straddled the fairy mother and her children and cast a weak protective shield around the family as her heel struck the pack leader¡¯s chest. He soared backwards and landed hard against a fallen trunk. His claws ripped through the chitin of her wing, which settled at an unnatural angle across her tormented back. She twirled the Spear of Pinga and carved a diagonal slash across the face of the first of the two remaining wolves. Its tip sliced from eye to chin and blood cascaded obscured its vision. Preserving the spear¡¯s momentum, she pivoted and deflected the oncoming strike of the second wolf, which forced it off balance. She struck the wolf in the chest with her palm to shove it backwards and used the opportunity to invert her spear and pierce the first wolf through the heart to finish it off. It fell as she yanked the spear from its chest, and she nudged its body on the way down, so it did not land on the children beneath her feet. Calista closed the distance to the second wolf with a single powerful stride. She clenched her bare fist and punched the wolf in the throat. A satisfying crunch was her reward, and the wolf collapsed to its knees, its windpipe collapsed. A kick to its muzzle sent it sprawling, out of the fight.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The pack leader had recovered, his breath shallow from broken ribs. His eyes shot intense hatred at Calista, until he saw his three companions lying dead and dying at her feet. At that moment, his fury was replaced by something even more primal. Absolute terror. The wolf fled. It made it four strides before the Spear of Pinga imbedded in its back. Calista knelt beside the mother and her toddlers as the wolf¡¯s body struck the ground, already forgotten. The mother was covered in blood and her breath was shallow and erratic. She did not move. Calista carefully scooped up the woman and her children and carried they across the seonangdang¡¯s threshold. Grandmother Rena fell to her knees in tears beside the mother as Calista lay her gently on the ground. She handed the toddlers to the young frog grandson, who held them tightly. ¡°Anastia! Anastia, please, wake up,¡± pleaded Grandmother Rena as she gently shook the mother¡¯s shoulder. Calista forced herself to look away from Anastia as she fought back her own tears. She turned to the grandson. ¡°Stay within the light of the seonangdang. If you see any other fairies, convince them to shelter here with you. Do not leave the light until this is all over. Do you understand?¡± The young frog gulped and nodded his head. ¡°How¡­ how did you¡­?¡± Calista didn¡¯t hear his stammered question. She barreled through the trees, headed for the next seonangdang. The Arena screen was open in front of her, and she stared at the descending timer. Seven minutes, three seconds to go. * * * Milly sought out the undead muskrat¡¯s mind ¨C this one was named Benjamin ¨C and detonated it in the middle of the advancing wolf pack. It had been pursuing the family of eight monkey-fairies that Indigo led from the Gathering. Chunks of stone, brush, and wolf flesh rained down upon the fairies as they crossed their defensive line to safety. Sapphire¡¯s warriors advanced to finish off the disoriented wolves that had survived the blast, as Indigo approached Milly. ¡°Goddess, have you seen Nobori?¡± pleaded Indigo as the monkey family headed under the seonangdang. The bandage across her ruined eye was soaked as her wound had reopened during their flight. ¡°I¡¯m not a goddess, Indigo,¡± Milly said reflexively, her voice cold as she studied the increasingly diminished defenses of their front line. She cursed as she saw a single wolf a hundred paces away battling three of Sapphire¡¯s fairies. One warrior was already dead, and the wolf was casually batting away the strikes of the other two, a deathly smile plastered on its face as it played with its prey. Milly¡¯s hands glowed deep blue, and she launched a tightly woven bolt of ice across the battlefield and straight into the wolf¡¯s left eye. The wolf howled in pain and clutched at its face as the bolt spiraled like a drill and burrowed deeper. Now vulnerable, Elder Twotongue popped out of his hiding place and struck the beast¡¯s wound with his paralyzing tongue. Poisoned flowed, and the wolf fell helplessly to the ground. The two surviving warriors shoved their tridents into its stomach to finish it off and returned to their positions. They left the body of their companion laying on the battlefield, eyes open and clouded with nothingness. ¡°And no, I haven¡¯t seen Nobori,¡± Milly continued. ¡°Not since he led the Lost Foals and Floating Leaf Skulk to the seonangdang. He went back into the Gathering a few minutes ago.¡± ¡°I need to find him,¡± Indigo said desperately, and she rushed back towards the fray. ¡°Nobori, where are you?¡± Milly used her telekinesis to drag the purple monkey back to her side. Indigo¡¯s feet skidded along the ground in protest. ¡°You aren¡¯t going back in there, Indigo,¡± Milly said. She gently cupped the side of Indigo¡¯s head and used her healing magic to seal her wounded eye once more. ¡°You¡¯re done here. Get under the seonangdang and stay there.¡± Milly glimpsed back to the seonangdang. A hundred fairies were crammed beneath its light, the children seated anxiously along every branch as the adults circled the trunk. ¡°But¡­¡± Indigo protested, but Milly held her fast with her telekinesis. ¡°No buts, Indigo. Lightpaw!¡± Milly called, and the Elder appeared at her side. ¡°Get her to safety. Please stress upon her the importance of not leaving the seonangdang.¡± Lightpaw led the reluctant Indigo to safety. While Twotongue had elected to fight on the line, Elder Lightpaw had proven an invaluable resource to convince fairies who were intent on doing brave but foolish things to stay safe. Milly wiped the sweat from her brow, her knees weak as she existed at the edge of exhaustion. How long had we been fighting? She quickly opened her player screen.
Time Remaining: 4:52 Total Fairies: 1,214 Fairies Enslaved: 313 Fairies Murdered: 376 Fairies Under Seonangdangs: 133 Remaining Fairies: 392
The countdown had just passed the half-way point, and half the fairies had been killed or captured, and with each one it seemed the path to victory grew narrower. A pack of eight wolves emerged from the Gathering, attracted by Benjamin¡¯s explosion. Milly cursed. A pack of eight was too much for her to handle, and she reached out her mind to Olive ¨C the nearest of the two remaining muskrats ¨C to detonate when they approached. How much longer can we keep this up? Chapter 57 - Countdown "Hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible." Abraham Lincoln, American President Calista shoved the four children and their father under the third seonangdang as Olive¡¯s explosion rattled the treetops. The twenty fairies already sheltered beneath this seonangdang embraced the family with relief and beckoned Calista to join them within its safety of its light. Calista shook her head, the next cries for help already drawn her attention, and she bolted towards the voices. ¡°Hang in there, my love,¡± Calista whispered into the wind, wishing Milly could hear her plea. ¡°We just need to survive four more minutes.¡± A tremendous snap, followed by a fearful wails, reached Calista¡¯s ears. She turned towards the cries for help and stumbled when she saw the massive form of Fairy Killer towering over its victims. She began to flee from the beast, until she recognized the elderly voices that cried out for help. ¡°Shit. Calista, you don¡¯t need to go there. They brought this upon themselves,¡± she groaned to herself. Her feet instinctively shifted beneath her, and she headed to intercept Fairy Killer, cursing herself for her idiocy. Calista broke into the clearing just as Fairy Killer lifted Elder Tidebreaker in its jaws. The gull frantically flapped his useless wings, feathers flying everywhere in a frantic attempt to escape the beast¡¯s iron bite. Chief Elder Tamarind and Elder Durian watched helplessly from below, surrounded by a dozen members of their tribes and twice as many corpses. ¡°Help me, my friends,¡± pleaded Elder Tidebreaker. ¡°Please, help me!¡± His fellow elders looked on helplessly, as Fairy Killer began to swallow the elder alive. Calista hurled her spear into the beast¡¯s giant left eye. It howled with outrage as the metal tip pierced its pupil. Elder Tidebreaker fell out of its mouth and landed hard on the ground, covered with a thick, putrid saliva. ¡°Run for the seonangdang,¡± Calista shouted at the elders and their kin as she rushed to Fairy Killer¡¯s hind leg and grabbed hold of a hunk of fur. ¡°Or just ignore me again, if you still think my girlfriend and I are liars.¡± A spark of loathing flashed in Calista¡¯s eyes, belying any argument from the Elders. Durian and Tidebreaker quickly gathered up their surviving kin and headed towards the nearest seonangdang. Chief Elder Tamarind remained behind after directing his few remaining kin to follow the other Elders. ¡°What the hell are you doing, Tamarind? Get out of here,¡± shouted Calista, grabbing a second handful of fur. She climbed up Fairy Killer¡¯s Leg towards its back while it was distracted. It ground it head into the dirt to try to dislodge the spear in its eye. Calista willed the spear to pull out an inch, just enough to aggravate the wound to keep the beast distracted. Tamarind sat cross-legged on a nearly stone. ¡°I¡¯m doing what I can, outsider,¡± the elder said softly. He mumbled under his breath, and a golden halo appeared over Calista¡¯s head. She felt her strength and agility increase as Tamarind¡¯s enhancement spell took effect. Calista scrambled up the beasts¡¯ leg and across its back with her newfound strength and agility, until she stood atop its thrashing head. Stretching her hand towards its skull, she called upon the Spear of Pinga to return to her. It did, through the most direct route. The howl of the wolf reached every ear in the valley as the spear slowly tore it way through the beast¡¯s eye, skull, and brain like a tiny, piercing needle. Calista struggled to maintain her balance atop the creature as it flailed in agony, and she wrapped her foot around its fur for purchase. She focused intently on the spear, and the effort drained her magic greatly. Fairy Killer¡¯s eyes glowed blue as it thrashed wildly. It healed the spear¡¯s damage as quickly as the damage was dealt. Calista wondered how much magic power it took to heal such an injury, and soon had her answer. As the spear completed its journey and erupted out of the back of Fairy Killer¡¯s skull like a bullet, the blue glow in the beast¡¯s eye¡¯s faded and a tiny, unhealed wound remained where the spear had emerged. Calista clutched the spear tightly with both hands. ¡°Okay, fucker. Let¡¯s see how long you last without your magic.¡± She drove the tip of the spear down hard into the unhealed wound and began to pry. Tamarind¡¯s enhancement spell took her strength to new heights, and Fairy Killer¡¯s skull cracked. With a triumphant grin, Calista brought the spear down again and again, open the crack wider until she could see its brain beneath. Fairy Killer slammed its body into tree and stone, desperate to dislodge Calista and end her relentless assault. Panic gripped the beast as it sought for prey to replenish its healing magic. Its eyes fell on Tamarind, seated on the stone with his eyes closed, mumbling as he maintained the enhancement spell. ¡°Tamarind!¡± Calista shouted as the beast turn its massive head towards the elder. ¡°Run!¡± Tamarind¡¯s eyes opened and he saw his face reflected in the massive wolf¡¯s eye. ¡°Protect my people, outsider,¡± Tamarind said calmly, and he poured every ounce of his remaining magic into the halo above Calista¡¯s head. Fairy Killer grabbed the elder between its teeth, threw him in the air, and swallowed him whole. Tamarind did not give the beast the satisfaction of a scream. Calista felt the enhancement halo flare to life, empowered by the sacrifice of Chief Elder. Her eyes flared with fire, and the fire flowed into the spear. The metal tip at the end of the driftwood began to glow with intense heat, and she stabbed it into the centre of Fairy Killer¡¯s brain. Fairy Killer tried to heal, but only a single, inadequate blue spark appeared for a fraction of a second. Tamarind had emptied himself of magic before being devoured, leaving little for the beast to consume. The beast, unable to shake its relentless attacker, bounded out of the clearing desperately searching for more prey. It sped across the Gathering as it sniffed the air and locked in on a scent. Calista knelt on the beast¡¯s head, held on for dear life, and continued her relentless assault, praying she would survive long enough for the countdown to reach zero.
Time Remaining: 1:35Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Total Fairies: 1,214 Fairies Enslaved: 384 Fairies Murdered: 503 Fairies Under Seonangdangs: 185 Remaining Fairies: 142
* * * Milly took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. This is it. The final minute of the arena. But I don¡¯t know how we¡¯ll survive it. She surveyed the wolf packs that had assembled at the edge of the Bazaar, just outside her magic¡¯s range. Thirty wolves had gathered ¨C the majority of their remaining forces ¨C led by a nine-foot-tall monster named Stormfury. Her winter white fur stained red from slaughter, she picked bits of flesh from beneath her claws as she shouted orders to the wolves to bring them in line to finally end the fairies¡¯ resistance. Exhausted, Milly leaned against a fallen oak to support herself. Her magic was nearly empty. As a last resort, she reluctantly removed Xavier¡¯s black blade from her inventory. She could feel its hunger as she held it in her hands, crying out for death. She shivered. Sapphire watched as Milly pulled the blade from thin air and mumbled ¡°Not a Goddess, my ass.¡± Milly was too tired to argue. Their defensive line had repelled five assaults from wolf packs in the last two minutes and it had cost them dearly. The land between the two armies was a graveyard of fairy and wolf alike. Across Milly¡¯s feet lay the last of Rain¡¯s explosive muskrats. It wouldn¡¯t be enough to dissuade the gathering horde. Nobori emerged from the Gathering as the wolves assembled, sneaking the surviving members of the Galloping Winds behind their lines and beneath the safety of the seonangdang. He embraced Indigo tightly, then snatched a trident from a fallen warrior and joined the lines at Milly¡¯s side. Indigo cried as he walked away, held under the light by her tribe. ¡°She won¡¯t forgive you for that, Nobori,¡± Sapphire advised with a subtle smile. She placed a comforting, scaled hand on his furry shoulder. ¡°She was my rock ¨C my everything ¨C when we were slaves. I¡¯ll do everything I can to keep her safe,¡± Nobori answered as he clutched the trident fiercely. It towered over his head, far too large for his petite form to properly wield. ¡°You¡¯re a brave one, tiny fox,¡± Sapphire said with admiration. ¡°You¡¯d be welcome amongst the Kinship of the Eastern Waves.¡± Nobori beamed with pride. Milly glanced back at their forces. There numbers had dwindled to less than sixty, and most were injured and exhausted. There was no more room under the healer¡¯s seonangdang, and they could not reach another in time. ¡°We¡¯re not going to win this,¡± Sapphire leaned over and mumbled to Milly. ¡°But we¡¯ll show them the strength of our tribes as we fall.¡± Milly hoisted the black blade in her hands. It weighed heavy on her soul. ¡°Stay together! Stay alive!¡± Milly shouted at the defenders. It was something Calista would have said. She felt a pang of sorrow as she glanced towards the Gathering and wondered if her girlfriend was still alive. She fed that thought to the fire of Salem¡¯s Fury and readied herself for the final battle. Stormfury howled, and the amassed wolves surged forward as the arena timer entered its final minute. ¡°It¡¯s been an honor to know you, Witch. I wish we¡¯d had more time to know each other,¡± Sapphire said, hoisting her trident and baring her shark-like teeth. The ground shook beneath their feet as the wolves charged forward, howling with excitement. Milly fixed her eyes on the nearest one, the black blade crying out to drain its soul away. Movement at her periphery drew her attention. A flash of a gigantic wolf at the edge of the Gathering. Milly realized the ground was not shaking from the charge of the wolves, but from something far worse. Shit. Not now. Please, anything but this. Fairy Killer burst onto the battlefield, headed directly between the wolf and fairy lines. Howls of exhilaration rose up from the wolves as they hailed the arrival of their strongest weapon. The howls were immediately silenced as Fairy Killer crushed two of the wolves beneath its massive paws in its mad charge forward. Calista rode upon Fairy Killer¡¯s bloody skull like a cowboy, her spear imbedded in the beast¡¯s exposed brain. Milly¡¯s heart soared as she saw her girlfriend, an excitement which quickly spread throughout the fairy lines. ¡°Cally!¡± cried Milly with elation. ¡°Milly, I could use something explody right now,¡± Calista called back. She was covered in the beast¡¯s blood from head to toe and struggled to keep a tight grip on her spear as Fairy Killer thrashed madly. The beast snatched two wolves and swallowed them without hesitation, desperate to replenish its magic. Chaos spread amongst the wolves, and even Stormfury stuttered in her charge towards the fairy lines. ¡°Sapphire, hold your fairies here. Do not attack. We can¡¯t let Fairy Killer get to any of them, or it will get its magic back,¡± Milly shouted as she tucked the last muskrat under her arm and ran towards Calista and Fairy Killer. The beast was in a frenzy, all rational thought having left it. For a brief moment, she thought of Gorath''s whip in her inventory, but the notion was abandoned as she saw Calista¡¯s hand slip. They didn''t have time for experimentation. ¡°Cally, catch!¡± Milly yelled when she came in range. She threw the muskrat and, with the last of her magic, pushed it towards Calista with her telekinesis. The fires of Salem¡¯s Fury extinguished as her magic emptied. The emotions the Fury had burned away rushed back to her light a tidal wave held at bay ¨C fear, pain, loss, and anger ¨C struck her like a tidal wave as the muskrat flew. Calista held on for dear life as she reached and caught the creature by the tail. ¡°Sorry, little guy,¡± she said apologetically as she shoved the muskrat deep into Fairy Killer¡¯s brain. She ripped her spear out and tumbled down the beast¡¯s back just as the muskrat bit down on its vial. The explosion blew apart Fairy Killer¡¯s head from within. The beast¡¯s flesh rained down upon the wolves as its life came to an abrupt end. Calista rode its deathly momentum as she rolled down its back and hind leg. Landing on her feet, she skidded across the trampled earth until she came to a stop ten paces away from the corpse. Calista took a deep breath, flipped her shoulder length hair from her eyes, and planted the Spear of Pinga into the soil as Fairy Killer¡¯s body fell with a resounding thud between the two armies. She stared into the wolf army. ¡°Well, that was fun. Which of you is next?¡± she asked casually, as if eliminating the mighty beast had been child¡¯s play. Her words carried through the stunned silence that had fallen over the battlefield and reached the ears of every wolf in their army. The confident spirit of the wolves shattered like glass striking stone. They clambered over each other in a desperate retreat, headed for the southern slopes. Stormfury watched incredulously as her forces fled, then, with a snarl, joined in their retreat. A euphoric cheer rang out from the fairies as Milly rushed into Calista¡¯s arms and held her tightly. ¡°Careful, love,¡± Calista grunted, every cut, bruise, and ache hitting her at once as Tamarind¡¯s enhancing halo faded away. ¡°I¡¯m more fragile than I look.¡± Milly leaned up and, ignoring the blood and filth that covered them both, kissed Calista passionately, over and over, as the Arena¡¯s countdown reached zero. A triumphant horn blared across the valley, signaling the end of the arena. ¡°Congratulations, players!¡± Tutorias voice echoed across the valley as the golden dome dissolved into a shower of gold confetti. ¡°That was one for the ages! The AI Director is calculating your points as we speak, but for now, enjoy some well-earned peace.¡± The fairies¡¯ elation lasted only for a few seconds. As the seonangdang¡¯s light faded away, sorrowful cries began to fill the war-torn valley. Milly and Calista slumped to the ground, exhausted. They sat in the field of corpses and leaned against each other for support. Milly opened the arena player screen, and the final totals appeared.
Time Remaining: 0:00 Total Fairies: 1,214 Fairies Enslaved: 384 Fairies Murdered: 503 Fairies Saved: 327
The final statistic, comprised of the fairies under the seonangdangs and those who had survived the battlefield, flashed gold. It had been close, but they had won. They had saved over three hundred fairies. ¡°Nine hundred dead. Milly, their whole society is decimated. What are they going to do?¡± Milly didn¡¯t have an answer. She simply held her girlfriend close as the sorrow of the fairies spread, and they waited the rewards their death had bought.
Congratulations! Your party has defeated Unique Beast: Fairy Killer. Your party has been awarded 20,000 experience points. Milly Brown has leveled up three times. Six attribute points, one general talent point, and three class talent points acquired. Calista Gale has leveled up four times. Eight attribute points, one general talent point, and two class talent points acquired. Class Talent points will be awarded when a class has been selected. Items Acquired: Fairy Killer Roast (unique ingredient) Gold Acquired: 5,000
Chapter 58 - Rewards and Responsibilities "You must reward the kind of behavior that you want." Jim Mattis Milly and Calista sat on the shore of the Lake of Memories, exhausted. The wolves had been driven back, and now the specter of grief had settled across the valley. A sorrowful silence filled the world, punctuated only by grief¡¯s wails. Leaning against each other for support, they stared blankly at the obsidian pillar at the centre of the lake, leaving the wounded to be tended and the dead to be tallied. ¡°How long do you think it will be?¡± Calista asked quietly, her face buried in Milly¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Until?¡± Milly mumbled, her eyes blotchy from fallen tears. Salem¡¯s Fury had devoured her emotions during the battle, leaving her brave and defiant, but it had left a cold numbness and sense of guilt in its wake. ¡°Anything,¡± Calista replied. ¡°The rewards. The blame. Until Rain wakes up. Just¡­ anything except waiting, and staring¡­ staring at this fucking lake!¡± Milly stroked Calista¡¯s red hair, her fingers working through her knots. She didn¡¯t react to Calista¡¯s sudden outburst. Her girlfriend had been cycling through tears and anger for the past hour as she processed grief in her own way. Calista leaned into the strokes, and the angry tension left her. ¡°Rain will recover,¡± Milly promised. ¡°She¡¯s stable now. Whitewing said she may not wake up for days. Maybe a week. But she¡¯s alive, Cally. I¡­ I can pick stronger healing spells tonight from my level ups and help. Rain will be back on her feet before we know it.¡± Calista didn¡¯t say anything. She shifted in the sand and wrapped her arm around Milly¡¯s waist. ¡°I¡¯ll heal you too, Cally,¡± Milly added, tracing her finger alongside the shallow cuts scattered across Calista¡¯s legs. ¡°Do they hurt?¡± ¡°No,¡± answered Calista softly. ¡°Not really. Just a tingle. Eighteen toughness has its advantages. You?¡± Milly held up her arm. She had a few shallow cuts and bruises, but nothing that would leave a scar. The cuts had scabbed and the bruises were fading. ¡°I heal quickly,¡± Milly answered with a smile. ¡°You made me get that regeneration talent, remember?¡± ¡°You have a smart girlfriend,¡± Calista boasted, her faint smile hidden against Milly¡¯s gown. ¡°You should listen to her more.¡± ¡°Not just smart. A brave and beautiful commander of a girlfriend,¡± Milly praised. ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Cally.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Calista denied as her smile faded. ¡°Every time I take charge, people die. The Freelancers, and now the fairies¡­¡±. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you think like that,¡± Milly comforted, catching Calista¡¯s eye. ¡°This game ¨C this God Contest ¨C it¡¯s designed to kill us. The gods are responsible for the dead. You are responsible for the survivors. Cally, I¡¯m proud of you. I¡¯m so proud of you.¡± Calista looked at Milly with glistening eyes, then gave her a slight, uncertain nod. A trickle of Calista¡¯s confidence restored, the couple returned to their vigil, staring across the lake. A notification appeared in the corner of Milly¡¯s vision. Calista¡¯s eyes flickered as she received the same message. ¡°I guess Lun¡­ the AI Director is done with the calculations,¡± Milly announced solemnly. ¡°Do you want to go first, or¡­?¡± ¡°You do it,¡± Calista said, returning her head to Milly¡¯s shoulder. Milly opened her notification and projected the message in front of them.
Congratulations Milly on your victory. We have calculated your reward for successful completion of the Arena of Protection. As [Rain Desjarlais] and [Xavier Holloway] are not available to accept their rewards at this time, the AI Director has elected to utilize a reward exchange system for this Arena. Do you wish to begin?
¡°Umm¡­ yes?¡± Milly answered uncertainly. ¡°What the heck is a reward exchange system?¡±
Please ensure the area ahead of you is clear of obstacles before initiating prize exchange materialization.
¡°Prize exchange materialization?¡± Calista asked, as confused as Milly. ¡°Did the AI swallow a thesaurus?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Milly shrugged. She glanced over her shoulder to ensure no fairies were watching. ¡°It looks clear,¡± Milly said, and Calista nodded in agreement. ¡°Only one way to find out. Please¡­ um¡­ start prize materialization... whatever.¡± Pop. Without warning, a rickety chair appeared out of nowhere and floated above their heads. ¡°What the absolute hell,¡± Calista murmured, as the chair slowly began to orbited them. Pop. A second object appeared, this time the knotted surface of a long, wooden table. Pop. Pop. Pop. More objects appeared. Bamboo, colorful cloth, and the remainder of the table spiraled above their heads, as if they were at the center of a small tornado. When the final piece ¨C a banner with ¡®Prize Booth¡¯ written in colorful letters ¨C appeared, the objects collectively flew ten paces from shore and began to assemble. In the space of a dozen heartbeats, the various parts had fashioned themselves into a rickety stall that mirrored those in the Bazaar. The Prize Booth hovered two inches above the water as if suspended by an invisible string. Bamboo poles strapped to either end of the table held aloft the banner, and the colorful cloth rested over the table¡¯s surface. ¡°Tada!¡± came a familiar voice from beneath the table, and Tutoria popped up with a broad smile. She wore a white dress shirt, brown vest, black suspenders, and a bright red bowtie, as if she were in charge of a carnival booth. ¡°Congratulations on your success, girls! That was very exciting!¡± ¡°Great, another Tutoria,¡± Calista murmured sarcastically. Tutoria ignored Calista. She clapped her hands once above her head, and the invisible string severed. The prize booth settled gently on the surface of the water, then suddenly dropped three feet into the water as gravity took hold. Tutoria let loose a high-pitched shriek as the unexpected drop flung her backwards. She fell into the water, drenched from head to toe. Milly could not help herself. Despite everything that had happened that morning, she burst out in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. It emerged from the depths of her wounded spirit and cut through her numbness and pain. Calista joined her, and their laughter turned into tears, and finally back to laughter as Tutoria pulled herself out of the water, covered in algae. Tutoria plopped herself down on the wooden chair behind the booth, the water level just below the seat. ¡°Are you two quite finished?¡± Tutoria said, perturbed. ¡°You were supposed to ensure the area was clear before you materialized me. Not drop me into a lake!¡± ¡°I mean¡­¡± Calista snorted, trying to catch her breath as tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°The instructions were quite vague.¡± Tutoria huffed, then beckoned them to approach. Milly and Calista waded into the water as Tutoria pulled dozens of small objects from her pockets and haphazardly placed them on the table. It was an assortment of miniature weapons, animals, books, and clothing. ¡°Now, this is quite straight forward,¡± Tutoria instructed. ¡°It works like the prize booth at a fair. You both received points based on your performance in the arena, and you can exchange those points for these prizes.¡± ¡°My father used to take me to the carnival every year when I was a kid,¡± Calista reminisced. ¡°We¡¯d get cotton candy, and he¡¯d win tickets at the marksman air rifle game. It would take a hundred tickets to get a stuffed animal, but he¡¯d keep at it until we had enough. I still have Mr. Piggy at home, and dad¡­ dad would¡­¡± Calista trailed off, and Milly held her hand tightly. ¡°Yes, well, these prizes are a bit more¡­ substantive than a stuffed animal,¡± Tutoria continued. ¡°This miniature of a grey cat, for instance, is a familiar. An animal that bonds to you that you can command.¡± Tutoria put down the cat miniature and picked up another. ¡°This axe can fell a tree with a single swing, and this is the mug of Infinite Moonshine. The mug only works if you are drinking the moonshine though. There was a player who exploited a¡­ well, let¡¯s call it a loophole¡­ during the fifth God Contest. It didn¡¯t end well.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Milly stared at the variety on the table and felt lost. ¡°How many points do we have?¡± asked Calista. Her eyes gravitated toward a pair of winged leather sandals. ¡°Let me check,¡± Tutoria said, pulling out a yellow sheet of paper covered with complex and utterly illegible calculations. ¡°Milly Persephone Brown was awarded ten points.¡± ¡°Your middle name is Persephone?¡± Calista teased. ¡°You¡¯re so fancy.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Milly whispered back, mortified. ¡°I hate it.¡± ¡°And¡­ Calista Sylvia Gale¡­¡± Tutoria continued. Calista raised an challenging eyebrow towards Milly. Milly sighed. ¡°¡­it¡¯s beautiful,¡± she admitted. ¡°Everything about you is beautiful.¡± ¡°¡­ is awarded eleven points,¡± Tutoria finished. ¡°The additional point is for ¡®extraordinary protective ability.¡¯ The Tutoria Calculation Committee didn¡¯t believe that was a relevant point category, but Director Cutie-pie made an executive decision to add it. So, congratulations for protecting twenty-seven more fairies than you needed to, I guess.¡± It wasn¡¯t for protecting the fairies, was it Luna? You gave her the point for keeping me safe. ¡°Rain received eight points, since technically it was her muskrat that dealt the death blow to Fairy Killer. Xavier got five, since he was out of the fight after Gorath,¡± Tutoria rattled off. ¡°Xavier is going to be pissed,¡± Calista mumbled, and Milly was surprised to hear a note of sympathy in her voice. ¡°What? Look, I don¡¯t like the guy, but he did try to save Rain.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t get to collect for a while,¡± Milly added. ¡°Whitewing said he needs to be kept unconscious for a couple of weeks as they heal his skull.¡± ¡°Well, he can summon me when he¡¯s awake,¡± Tutoria interrupted impatiently. ¡°But he¡¯s not here right now. Pick your prizes. I don¡¯t want to be standing around in a lake all day.¡± Calista immediately pointed at the winged sandals. ¡°What are these?¡± Tutoria grabbed the model and held it up for Calista. A description menu appeared beneath.
Item: The Talaria of Mercury Created by the god Hephaestus from the woven hair of Pegasus, the Talaria grants Mercury¡¯s speed to the player. It increases the player¡¯s agility by ten and doubles their running speed when worn. It leaves no trace of a player¡¯s passage. The player may imbue the sandals with magical energy to enable temporary, but clumsy, flight. WARNING: Flight consumes magic at an extraordinary pace. Remember the lessons of Icarus and do not fly too high. At your current magic attribute level, flight will last for (5) seconds.
¡°It¡¯s ten points if you want it,¡± Tutoria added as she checked her notes. ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Calista said with confidence. ¡°Cally, there are so many choices,¡± Milly said uncertainly. ¡°How do you know that¡¯s the right one to pick?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an expert hunter, both in the wild and at the mall, beautiful. You don¡¯t get to be the baddest bitch in high school without knowing your way around a mall.¡± Calista boasted. ¡°Besides, look at me. Spear. Amazon dress. Companion of Artemis talent. Who else would these sandals have be made for?¡± Milly glanced at Tutoria, who casually shrugged. ¡°No comment.¡± ¡°So the sandals and¡­ Tutoria, what can I get for my last point?¡± Calista asked. Tutoria snapped her fingers, and two models floated into her hand ¨C a ring and a book. ¡°There isn¡¯t much available for a single point. This ring will increase your strength by six, and this book will let you pick a talent from the lowest tier of the talent web. You can also¡­¡± Calista plucked the book from Tutoria¡¯s palm without waiting for the third option. ¡°The talent.¡± ¡°¡­ convert points into four thousand gold each,¡± finished Tutoria. ¡°That last option is nothing to sneeze at. Defeating Fairy Killer gave you five thousand gold, so four thousand for a single point is a tidy sum this early in the contest. The shop Tutoria has some significant comforts available at that price.¡± ¡°The talent,¡± Calista confirmed. ¡°The world is getting more dangerous the further we get from the Castle of Glass. Every talent we have improves our chances of survival. The ring and gold are nice, but we can earn both battling monsters.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Tutoria said. She snapped her fingers, and the two miniatures in Calista¡¯s hands expanded to their full size. The tiny wings on the back of the sandals fluttered, lifting an inch off Calista palm before settling back down. Calista stared at her rewards for a long moment. ¡°I feel guilty,¡± she admitted. ¡°So many fairies died today. It feels¡­ wrong¡­ to be profiting off their loss.¡± Milly gave Calista an understanding kiss on the cheek, then lifted the sandals from Calista¡¯s palm and knelt at her feet. Slipping off Calista¡¯s tattered shoes, she guided Calista¡¯s foot into the first sandal. It fit perfectly. The woven straps automatically tightened, and the tiny wings flapped excitedly. ¡°Cally,¡± Milly said softly as she moved to her second foot. ¡°We need these. The Lost Foals. The Float Leaf Skulk. Sapphire¡¯s Eastern Waves. All of them. They¡­ they won¡¯t survive here on their own.¡± ¡°I¡­ I know,¡± Calista said. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that too. The Wolves of the Silver Lake will want revenge, and they won¡¯t stop until they¡¯ve hunted them all down. They can track them in the wilds. There¡¯s only one place I know where we can keep them safe.¡± ¡°The Castle of Glass,¡± Milly concluded, their thoughts aligned. The second sandal tightened on Calista¡¯s foot. Calista nodded. ¡°Our responsibility to protect them didn¡¯t end with the Arena. Twotongue, Whitewing, Sapphire, and their families. They may just be constructs of this world but¡­ but I care about them, damn it! I don¡¯t want any more of them to die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we need these rewards, Cally.¡± Milly said as she rose and took her turn at the prize booth. She picked through a dozen of the objects, rejecting each one. ¡°They need us to be strong. Plus, we may need to protect them from more than wolves. What about the CEOs?¡± Calista cracked her knuckles. ¡°Milly, have you seen yourself? You gained five levels this morning. You can hurl lightning and fire across a battlefield. Even without your magic, I¡¯ve seen you take down wolves with your bare hands. We¡¯re grown stronger, and if that asshole Stone tries to hurt any of them, he¡¯ll learn first-hand just how strong that is.¡± ¡°With my bare hands?¡± Milly asked, blushing from Calista¡¯s praise. ¡°With you bare fucking hands,¡± Calista reiterated, as she grasped Milly¡¯s hands tightly in hers and kissed her passionately. ¡°You with me on this?¡± ¡°Always,¡± Milly breathed. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. ¡°Am I¡­ am I ever going to stop blushing when you kiss me like that?¡± ¡°Not if I can help it, love,¡± Calista whispered, as she nipped Milly¡¯s earlobe. ¡°And it might be more than just a kiss.¡± Milly¡¯s face was completely crimson when she turned back to Tutoria. ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ Tutoria¡­ I need¡­¡± Milly stuttered, her thoughts tangled in a dizzying web of desire. ¡°I need¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I know what you need,¡± Tutoria teased, giving Calista an exaggerated wink. ¡°Your girlfriend may enjoy your bare hands¡­¡± Milly¡¯s blush spread to the tips of her ears. ¡°¡­ but you need a weapon,¡± Tutoria finished, relishing Milly¡¯s discomfort. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯ve made it this far without one. Calista has her spear, Rain her dagger, and Xavier his sword. I¡¯m a Tutoria, so let me give you a bit of advice. Magic is powerful, but relying so heavily on it makes you vulnerable. There are monsters out there that are immune to magic, or who can turn your own magic against you. You need a back-up plan, or you risk an early demise.¡± Tutoria picked a miniature off the table and handed it to her. ¡°There are many solid choices on this table, Mildred, but this weapon has a synergy that fits well with your chosen approach.¡± The miniature was a pair of identical, intertwined rings, carved from rainbow obsidian and smoothed to a fine polish.
Item: The Obsidian Fists of Apollo Apollo, brother of the goddess Artemis, is the Greek god of music, truth, healing, and more. He is also the inventor and patron deity of boxing, a personal passion above all others. To celebrate the sport, he commissioned Hephaestus to create the Obsidian Fists as a bridge between the magical and the physical. In addition to increasing the player¡¯s strength by one tenth the value of her magic attribute, the Obsidian Fists partially replenish the player¡¯s magic reserves each time a foe is defeated using the Fists. They are the perfect weapon for the player who wishes to balance magic power with an up-close-and-personal approach.
¡°They¡¯re perfect for you,¡± whistled Calista, watching over Milly¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You took Red Fang apart like that.¡± He wasn¡¯t the only one. That wolf that had enslaved Nobori¡­ I finished him off with my fists encased in stone. ¡°How many points, Tutoria?¡± Milly asked. ¡°It¡¯ll cost you every point you have,¡± answered Tutoria. ¡°But, trust me, it¡¯s worth it.¡± Milly hesitated. She recalled the pleasure that had consumed her as Xavier¡¯s black blade drank the life of Gorath and replenished her magic. It had been all consuming. Terrifying. Addicting. Will this weapon affect me the same way? Xavier isn¡¯t the same person I knew two weeks ago. That kind of power that changes someone. Milly pulled Xavier¡¯s Blade out of her inventory and held it before Tutoria. ¡°Do the Fists¡­ work like this?¡± Tutoria studied the weapon. Information screens appeared and disappeared faster than Milly could read as Tutoria scanned through an innumerable amount of information in the blink of an eye. ¡°No... this is something¡­ else,¡± Tutoria muttered as the final screen disappeared. ¡°The Obsidian Fists and this blade have different power sources. When a player kills with the Obsidian Fists, Apollo grants the user a bit of magic as a reward for victory. It is small, but it can build up quickly if you are fighting against a horde.¡± She pointed at Xavier¡¯s blade. ¡°That, on the other hand, is tied to the realm of Xibalba. The underworld of the dead. It consumes the very essence of its victim ¨C its soul ¨C and converts it into more versatile energy. Magic. Strength. Healing. The stronger its master, the more versatile and powerful the energy. This blade is powerful ¨C very powerful, but there are side-effects.¡± Tutoria looked like she wanted to say more but stopped herself. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t use that blade. The Fists are a better fit for you. Less powerful, but without the drawbacks.¡± Milly stared at the blade as she wondered what Tutoria had left out. She returned it to her inventory. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take the Fists,¡± Milly decided. The rings expanded in her hand, and Milly slipped one on each index finger. ¡°How do they work?¡± ¡°Just focus,¡± Tutoria instructed. ¡°They won¡¯t activate unless you want them to. They are built to complement a magic user¡¯s ability, not impede it.¡± Milly clenched her fists. Fists¡­ um¡­ go! The rainbow obsidian rings expanded, their form extending across her fingers until it looked like she wore rainbow brass knuckles. The weapon stretched from knuckle to joint, beautifully polished, and deadly. Milly could feel the six point increase in her strength as they activated, and she punched the air to test them out. ¡°Well?¡± Milly asked Calista, posing like a boxer. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re taking those things off before bed,¡± Calista replied. ¡°And before¡­ other activities,¡± Tutoria teased. Milly¡¯s blush had nowhere left to go, so it evolved from crimson to scarlet. ¡°One last thing before I depart,¡± Tutoria said with a flourish. She turned towards the obsidian pillar that towered above the Lake of Memories and clapped her hands together. The ground began to rumble, and the pillar suddenly imploded. The fragments of obsidian crashed down into the lake, sending waves crashing onto the shore. Shouts of surprise echoed across the Gathering. In the span of a dozen heartbeats, all that remained of the once towering pillar was an island of stone in the center of the lake, a new Waypoint Pillar at its exact center. It mirrored the one that had risen upon the completion of the Arena of Choice. ¡°Good luck, girls,¡± Tutoria bellowed, as the prize booth shattered into its component parts and spiraled into the air. ¡°Tell Rain and Xavier not to summon me in the middle of a fucking lake when it is their turn, okay?¡± Tutoria and the booth flashed out of existence, leaving Milly and Calista standing waist-deep in the lake. ¡°So, now what?¡± Milly asked. ¡°Now we go talk to the elders,¡± Calista answered, her voice filled with commitment. ¡°And then we all go home.¡± Chapter 59 - Return to the Castle of Glass "Home is a shelter from storms - all sorts of storms." William J. Bennett, American Politician ¡°Have you all taken leave of your senses?¡± exclaimed Elder Tidebreaker in outrage. ¡°These outsiders brought the wolves to our door, and you would bind yourselves to them? You abandon our ways as you dig the graves of our kin.¡± ¡°Elder Tidebreaker, be calm,¡± spoke Elder Lightpaw in a soft voice that carried across the Elder¡¯s stone circle. ¡°You do a disservice to the Drifting Cloud clan by treating Ms. Gale and Ms. Brown with such hostility. Without their assistance, we wouldn¡¯t be here right now.¡± ¡°Tell that to those of us who didn¡¯t make it,¡± retorted Tidebreaker, his anger escalating. He gestured towards the empty stone seats. ¡°Tell that to Chief Elder Tamarind, whose body lies in the belly of that beast.¡± Milly and Calista sat in the sand in the middle of the stone circle as they listened to the elders argue. Only six of the stone Elder seats were occupied ¨C the sole surviving elders of the fairy clans. ¡°How many others would Fairy Killer have murdered if you hadn¡¯t killed it, Cally?¡± whispered Milly as she clutched Calista¡¯s hand. Calista squeezed her hand in reply, intent on the arguing elders. ¡°The Chief Elder would want us to survive,¡± interrupted Elder Sapphire, her spear stuck in the sand beside her. Covered in shallow wounds, she had refused treatment to preserve the healers¡¯ strength. ¡°This is the best ¨C perhaps the only ¨C chance we have to rebuild.¡± ¡°Of course you would say that, Sapphire. You¡¯ve been enamored with these outsiders since they stepped foot in our most sacred of places,¡± accused Tidebreaker. ¡°You¡¯d throw your Eastern Waves to the wolves if it meant spending another hour in their company.¡± Sapphire¡¯s hand shot out and grasped her spear, her eyes flashing with anger. Tidebreaker squawked and jumped back a step, his wing torn from his encounter with Fairy Killer. Calista¡¯s eyes flared with outrage. She started to rise to defend Sapphire, but Milly held her back. ¡°This needed to be their decision, Cally,¡± she whispered. Calista settled back onto the sand, steaming mad. ¡°You would treat your fellow elders with such distain, Tidebreaker, after the loss our people have suffered?¡± chimed in Quickstride. Although he had given up his elder title before the battle, he sat as an equal in the circle. ¡°We owe it to our people to consider the outsiders¡¯ offer. Their generous offer.¡± ¡°You too, Quickstride? So the Galloping Winds will join in this collective suicide,¡± Tidebreaker spat, as he began to feel outnumbered. ¡°And I suppose the Floating Leaf Skulk and Lost Foals are as foolish as the Winds and Waves? Tentongue and Lightpaw nodded their support. ¡°We¡¯ll take our chance at their Castle of Glass,¡± Lightpaw replied. ¡°The wolves have been picking us off, one by one, for years. Today was meant to be their final blow to our people. If we return to our old ways ¨C if we don¡¯t adapt ¨C the wolves will come back to finish us.¡± ¡°You are all fools. These outsiders will enslave you, as surely as the wolves. If you do this, the Drifting Cloud and the Swinging Vine clans shall be the last free fairies in this world. Right, Elder Durian?¡± Elder Durian sat in silence for a long moment. The monkey elder slouched against his quarterstaff as if burdened by an impossible weight. ¡°¡­ The Swinging Vine clan will join the other clans at the Castle of Glass,¡± he finally said, his voice low and filled with defeat. Tidebreaker stared at his long-time ally, his beak opened in shock. ¡°You¡­ you can¡¯t be serious, Durian,¡± he pressed. He looked into his friend¡¯s eyes and saw within a deep sense of inevitability, as if the world had fallen from the monkey elder¡¯s control and had been carried away on the winds of fate. ¡°It¡¯s the only choice we have left, my friend,¡± Durian murmured. ¡°Our only path to survival.¡± ¡°¡­ You¡­ you are all mad,¡± Tidebreaker whispered, his anger collapsing as if it were a breaking wave. He sat down on his stone, diminished. ¡°Your people will not be slaves,¡± Calista said as the elders fell silent. ¡°I can¡¯t promise that you will be welcomed by everyone at the Castle of Glass. There will be those among our coworkers¡­ I mean, our people¡­ that will need to be convinced. But Milly, Rain and I will protect you, and we have allies there who will help you.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°So you promise us charity and protection? Is that not simply another means of enslavement?¡± Tidebreaker muttered, his venom faded. ¡°There is plenty of land around the Castle of Glass ¨C jungle, mountain, and plains ¨C and a wide-open ocean for Sapphire¡¯s clan,¡± Milly chimed in. ¡°Fish and game, and the bounties of the wilds. You don¡¯t have to rely on us. You can support yourselves. You can raise your children in safety and rebuild.¡± ¡°Well, Tidebreaker? What will it be?¡± Lightpaw asked the gull. ¡°Every moment we argue is another that puts our people in danger.¡± Tidebreaker slumped over and stared at the sand, defeated. ¡°What choice do I have?¡± Milly smiled softly, and they began to plan the Exodus of the Fairies. * * * It was mid-afternoon by the time their small party crossed the Lake of Memories and set foot on the obsidian stone island. The Waypoint Pillar towered above them, ready to take them home. Home. I suppose the Castle of Glass is my new home. We¡¯ll make it their new home too. Milly glanced back at the shore, where the fairies prepared their children, elderly, and wounded to be transported to the island. They carried only their most critical belongings with them ¨C the ones they would need to survive the night. The priority was to get the fairies out of the valley as soon as possible in case the wolves returned. In the morning, they would return to retrieve the remainder of their lives and bury their dead. ¡°Lightpaw, are you ready?¡± Calista asked. ¡°I am,¡± answered the newly elected Chief Elder. ¡°I trust you, Ms. Gale. Show us the way.¡± Milly lifted Rain off their raft and held the unconscious woman gently in her arms. Rain¡¯s leg was shredded and her breath was shallow, but Whitewing¡¯s healers had managed to stabilize her bleeding. It was all the healers had time to do before they had to focus on the dying fairies. Calista stretched her hand towards Lightpaw, and Lightpaw grasped it with his paw. Milly completed the chain as she wrapped her hand around the other fuzzy paw. We¡¯ve never transported a non-player. I hope this works. Calista placed her hand upon the Waypoint Pillar. Waypoint Pillar activated. Select destination.
  1. Castle of Glass
  2. Arena of Choice (Overlook Mountain)
  3. The Jungle Spire
  4. Arena of Domination (The Swamp of the Undying)
  5. Arena of Protection (Lake of Memories)
  6. (All other Pillars are currently locked)
Calista removed her hand from the pillar in surprise, and the window disappeared. ¡°Someone completed another arena?¡± Milly said, shocked. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Calista answered. She returned her hand to the pillar and the destination window appeared once again. ¡°Castle of Glass,¡± Calista said firmly, and braced herself. An instant later, Calista, Milly, Lightpaw, and an unconscious Rain were hurling down the kaleidoscope tunnel, headed for the Castle of Glass. Headed for home. * * * Thirty seconds later, they appeared beneath the Castle of Glass Waypoint Pillar. ¡°We need to find Elmer and¡­ woah,¡± Calista started, just as two of their coworkers ran past them carrying a ten-foot-tall log of pine, its bark and branches stripped off. They were dressed in peculiar, mismatched equipment and scurried across the jungle as if their burden weighed nothing. ¡°Was that¡­ Amir and Kenji, from accounting?¡± Milly asked. Those little perverts. Last I saw them, they were too scared to leave their cubicle. Where did they get magical equipment? ¡°They got stronger while we were away,¡± Calista said, as she gazed at the flurry of activity around them. ¡°And they aren¡¯t the only ones.¡± The land around the Castle of Glass was awash in activity. Hundreds of their coworkers, most dressed in similar mismatched equipment, hurried about as they worked on half-completed projects and carted supplies into the tower. The Waypoint Pillar had been at the edge of the jungle terrain a week ago. Now, it stood in the middle of clear-cut terrain, the wilds all around the Castle of Glass pushed back two hundred paces. Fallen tress littered the ground, and a dozen players hacked them into firewood and building material. Amir and Kenji carried the log to a pile at the edge of the cleared jungle terrain, where a massive team of players was constructing eight-foot-tall log wall. It started at the eastern ocean ¨C where the Battle of Tower Beach had been fought ¨C and already stretched half-way across the jungle terrain. ¡°We¡¯ll need another ten pines for the Jungle Gate, Amir,¡± The foreman shouted, and Amir waved in response as they quickly dashed across the sands towards the northern mountains. Colored stones marked their construction path. It stretched into the plains and around the gardens, which had ballooned from a small hobby garden to four acres of tilled earth. A team of gardeners worked on the soil, and Milly saw small flashes of green magic as they knelt in the earth. Tiny seedlings already sprouted in tidy rows, spurred on by the spells they cast. The colored stones stretched onward into the mountain terrain and out of side behind Tower Three. Upon completion, the palisade wall would encircle the Castle of Glass. ¡°If only we¡¯d had that wall last week¡­,¡± said Milly regretfully, the deaths at the Battle of Tower Beach raw in her mind. ¡°Veronica, Matt, and the others. Maybe they¡¯d still be with us if we¡¯d build some defenses.¡± Calista placed a sympathetic hand on the small of Milly¡¯s back. ¡°We¡¯re learning, beautiful. We¡¯ll be better prepared next time.¡± ¡°We already are,¡± Milly agreed, as she clenched her fist and felt the twin rings of Obsidian Fist against her palms. ¡°There will be time to see everything later,¡± prompted Calista, focused on their goal. ¡°Lightpaw, let¡¯s find Elmer and make the arrangements. You¡¯ll¡­ Lightpaw?¡± The Chief Elder hadn¡¯t noticed the wall. He stared up at the quadruple towers that rose sixteen stories above him at the exact centre of his world¡¯s four terrains, their glass and steel brilliance sparkling in the afternoon sun. Chapter 60 - Touches of Home "Home wasn''t build in a day." Jane Sherwood Ace, American Comedian ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it''s incredible,¡± Lightpaw whispered in awe, staring up at the Castle of Glass. ¡°It towers into the heavens but does not sway in the wind. It¡¯s illuminated, yet I see not a single candle within. What marvel is this that you have created?¡± ¡°What, the lights?¡± Milly responded, shifting Rain¡¯s weight in her arms. ¡°It¡¯s called electricity. It¡¯s just technology. Honestly, the Castle of Glass is¡­ well¡­ a bit shit.¡± ¡°A lot shit,¡± Calista agreed. ¡°It¡¯s a joke where we are from. A dilapidated structure that changed ownership more often than the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs. And about as successful.¡± ¡°Are¡­ are you a hockey fan? That¡¯s hockey, right?¡± Milly whispered uncertainly. ¡°Dad was. He¡¯d make me watch,¡± Calista whispered back. ¡°I only stayed for the popcorn. God, I haven¡¯t thought about that for a long time.¡± ¡°Utterly remarkable,¡± whispered Lightpaw. ¡°Our clans have wandered these lands for generations, but I have never heard of any coming across such a marvelous creation.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s only been here for two weeks,¡± Calista said, distracted. She spotted Billy and Ying on the beach, in the middle of a half-built outdoor barbecue restaurant. A dozen picnic tables were built on the sand, their surfaces covered with white table clothes and candles. A frame had been erected for a roof, and four Freelancers had started to fill it in with palm leaf thatch. It resembled something from a Mexican resort. Billy leaned over an eight-foot-long makeshift grill, constructed from scrap metal, and fueled by a three firepits dug into the sand beneath. The grill sizzled as Billy tossed slabs of meat and wild mushrooms onto its surface. The smell made Milly¡¯s mouth water, even from this distance. She didn¡¯t realize just how hungry she was until now. Or how tired. It¡¯s been, what? Thirty-five hours since I¡¯ve slept? Ying spotted them and waved enthusiastically, but her enthusiasm quicky shifted to urgency when she saw Rain in Milly¡¯s arms. She shouted to Billy, who handed his magical spatula to one of the helpers and ran into the Castle of Glass lobby. Ying dashed in their direction, darting across the sand as she nimbly leapt over fallen trees. She wore a sky-blue robe that draped just below her knees and had a small tiara adorning her head. Three rings on her fingers sparkled with a faint magic glow. Her shoes ¨C the same high heeled shoes she¡¯d had since the start of the God Contest ¨C were covered in blood stains, their heels snapped off. ¡°Calista! Milly! Oh my god, Rain,¡± she said as she rushed to Milly¡¯s side. She grimaced when she saw Rain¡¯s shredded leg. ¡°What happened? Where were you? Wait, don¡¯t answer yet. Just let me¡­¡± Ying¡¯s hands glowed healing blue as she placed them over Rain¡¯s heart. Her eyes filled with a bright green flare, and Rain¡¯s body became encompassed in a transparent cocoon of faint green light. Three windows popped up around Ying, each with a different view of Rain. Her skeleton, her circulatory system, and her skin. ¡°Those look like hospital scans,¡± whispered Calista, her voice slightly shaky. ¡°Dad had to get them all the time when he¡­ when he was close to the end.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a talent called Health Scan,¡± answered Ying, her eyes flicking between the three screens. ¡°I learned it yesterday when I hit level fifteen. It lets my healers target their healing magic, increasing both the speed and effectiveness of their spells.¡± ¡°Remarkable,¡± said Lightpaw as he watched with fascination. ¡°Our healers would give anything for that kind of ability.¡± Ying peaked around her scans and spotted the elderly fox for the first time. ¡°Calista, why did you bring a monster to the tower?¡± ¡°His name is Lightpaw, and he¡¯s not a monster,¡± Calista said with conviction. ¡°He¡¯s the Chief Elder of the fairies. They need a place to settle and rebuild.¡± ¡°And you brought him¡­ here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s their only hope for survival.¡± Ying looked anxious and closed her scans. ¡°Rain¡¯s in bad shape. The healers that worked on her ¨C your people?¡± Lightpaw nodded. ¡°They were able to stabilize her temporarily. But without the Health Scan talent, healing magic tries to heal all injuries at the same time, both superficial and life-threatening. The more injuries, the more the healing stretches itself thin. We learned that the hard way. Rain has six shattered ribs, internal hemorrhaging, and¡­ and I don¡¯t know about her leg, Calista. I need to get her to my team right away.¡± A crowd had started to gather around them. Curious eyes stared at the Witch of the Castle of Glass and The Huntress as much as they gazed at the fox elder. A familiar woman at the back of the crowd dashed into the lobby.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Shit,¡± muttered Ying. ¡°That was Edna Carthage. She¡¯ll go straight to Stone and Brass. Let¡¯s get to Freelancer Medical. It¡¯s on the second floor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared of Jacob Stone,¡± declared Calista, clutching her spear as she walked beside Lightpaw. The Chief Elder stayed close, trying to look stoic, but Milly could tell he was overwhelmed. ¡°You should be,¡± Ying countered, as they walked through the glass doors of the Lobby. ¡°They were the ones who bested the Arena of Domination. They¡¯re fucking heroes right now amongst our coworkers that stayed loyal to them. But we shouldn¡¯t talk about that here. Come on.¡± The lobby of the Castle of Glass was bustling with activity. Gone were the days when their coworkers simply sheltered in Tower One, too afraid to venture beyond the safety of the towers. Small groups of players stared down at the map on the floor as they plotted their patrol routes for tomorrow. The area half a mile out from the tower had been completely explored, the fog of war dissipated, though it was still a tiny fragment compared to the vastness of the entire map. Thin exploratory trails ventured beyond that half-mile perimeter, though only three stretched out further than a couple hours walk ¨C the ones that led to the two arenas. Milly glanced above the lobby door, where the Event Time counted down in its bright red numbers. There were three months, six days, and twelve hours on the clock until the next Event. A bit of breathing room, I hope. Time to prepare. Time to explore. A crowd had gathered around the Mission Board, each player holding aloft piles of items that quickly vanished, replaced with small purses filled with gold coins. One player ¨C an elderly woman who must have been nearly eighty years old ¨C held ten soiled goblin loincloths in her arms. Milly suppressed a chuckle at the relief on her face when the loincloths vanished and were replaced with a fifty-coin purse. That loincloth was the first item we received, Xavier and me. The first, damned day. He was so happy those first few hours. The happiest I¡¯d ever seen him. What happened to you Xavier? What happened in the Arena of Choice? What happened after you abandoned us? Milly shook the thoughts away but resolved to find out. But first, she needed to bring Xavier to Freelancer Medical. If Rain was in bad shape, he was worse off. Once they secured safety for the fairies, she would return to the valley for him. Tutoria¡¯s Emporia was packed with players buying pillows and blankets, utensils, cooking supplies and other creature comforts. Three cradled expensive waypoint crystals in their palms, while others purchased rudimentary armor and weapons. Milly saw her manager ¨C her former manager ¨C Mr. Fredrickson and his secretary and lover Mrs. Anand purchase a twin-sized bed, following behind the twin Tutorias who carried it into Tower One. ¡°I guess their affair is still going strong,¡± whispered Calista, as she pressed the button for the Freelancer Tower elevator. ¡°Lightpaw, how are you holding up?¡± Lightpaw ripped his gaze away from the wonders around him and gazed up at Calista. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve been torn from my world and thrust into the realm of the Ancient Mystics. I am managing, Ms. Gale, but I¡¯m beginning to wonder if Nobori¡¯s belief about you isn¡¯t far off.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just technology, Lightpaw,¡± Milly countered sharply as the elevator arrived and they stepped inside. ¡°Don¡¯t you start with that nonsense too. We¡¯re not gods. We¡¯re stuck here because of them.¡± The elevator doors shut, and Lightpaw stumbled as it began to move. Calista caught him before he fell. ¡°Sorry, Lightpaw. I didn¡¯t think to warn you,¡± Calista apologized. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°Technology,¡± breathed Lightpaw, as the elevator arrived at the second floor. ¡°Powerful magic.¡± The open-concept second floor had been an abandoned, dilapidated space a week ago, filled with cracked windows, stained carpet, and a strong mildew scent that seeped into every nook and cranny. Now, it was beginning to look like a hospital. Two dozen green army-style cots lined the southern wall, each separated by a white sheet that hung from the ceiling. A pile of bandages sat on a rickety wooden table next to the healing accelerant orb gifted to Ying after the Battle of Tower Beach. Six blue magic replenishment potions, a lighter color than the ones Rain had brewed, sat on an old bookshelf that was missing half its shelves. The most serious cracks in the windows were sealed, though Milly she could still feel a weak draft waft through the space. Every cot was occupied by an injured player, and painful moans echoed across the floor. A team of ten healers moved from bedside to bedside to check on their patients. Milly recognized the Healer Touch spell, but counted a half dozen others that she didn¡¯t know. ¡°Milly, bring Rain over here. We¡¯ve got a bed in the corner available,¡± Ying instructed, leading the way. Milly laid Rain carefully on the cot, careful not to bump her leg. ¡°Tyrell, I need you over here,¡± Ying called, and a middle-aged man hurried over. He stared at Rain¡¯s shredded leg and her snapped ankle, and looked like he would vomit. ¡°Fuck, what happened to her?¡± he asked, swallowing. ¡°Is that coffee girl? Is that the Witch? What¡¯s with the fox?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, Tyrell,¡± Ying said impatiently, her calm shifting to urgency. Her eyes flashed, and the three scans appeared in the air above Rain. ¡°I need you and Sandy to focus on her internal bleeding. If we don¡¯t get that under control, it won¡¯t matter if we heal the rest. I¡¯ll heal her ribs.¡± Ying began to unbutton Rain¡¯s bloodied Tailcoat to relieve the pressure on her chest. ¡°Rosalin, I need your Suture Spell. Get her leg under control, or she¡¯s going to lose it. When Cecil is finished with Naomi, have him help you. I don¡¯t want to lose our only barista. ¡°Fuck, I haven¡¯t had a coffee in two weeks,¡± whined Tyrell as he pressed his hands to Rain¡¯s stomach and began his spell. The elevator dinged, and Elmer and Billy stepped into the hospital. Elmer caught a glimpse of Rain¡¯s mangled leg and rushed to her bedside. He gave Calista a quick hug. ¡°Boy, am I glad to see you two lovebirds,¡± he said, relief evident in his voice. ¡°Your timing couldn¡¯t be better. We could really use your help.¡± ¡°Stone?¡± asked Milly with a touch of venom. He demonized me. Made me into a symbol of fear. The enemy of the tower. I let him walk all over me. But things have changed. I¡¯m not his meek employee any longer. ¡°¡­ A lot has changed in a week,¡± answered Elmer as he gazed down at Lightpaw. ¡°For you as well, I see. Let¡¯s not talk here. I¡¯ve got someone waiting in the war room for us.¡± Milly glanced back at Rain as her desire to help clashed with her reluctance to leave her best friend¡¯s side. ¡°Go with Elmer,¡± Ying urged. ¡°You¡¯ll just be in the way if you stay here. My team will do everything they can for Rain, but she won¡¯t wake up for days. This amount of healing takes a real toll on the body and she will need her rest.¡± Calista grabbed Milly¡¯s hand. ¡°Come on, love,¡± she whispered as they stepped into the elevator. ¡°We¡¯ve got work to do.¡± Milly¡¯s eyes did not leave Rain until the elevator closed. I¡¯ll protect you, Rain. I¡¯ll protect everyone. I swear it. A tiny lightning bolt arched between Milly¡¯s fingers, as her magic slowly returned. And if Stone or Brass tries to harm you or Cally, they¡¯ll learn just how powerful I¡¯ve become. Chapter 61 - The Demand "The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home." Confucius, Chinese Philosopher ¡°The night of the wake, after you left for the wilds, was an absolute shitshow,¡± Elmer began as the elevator creaked its way slowly to the sixteenth-floor. ¡°Jacob Stone, Judy Brass, and Cosmo Shufflebottom sent their people into¡­ Billy, knock it off.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, man,¡± Billy said, failing to hold in his chuckles. ¡°It¡¯s not enough that the guy dresses like a 1990¡¯s cereal mascot, but his name ¨C I just can¡¯t take him seriously.¡± ¡°Well, you need to start,¡± Elmer ordered. ¡°Because as of this morning, the EnergyWave CEO, as well as Stone and Brass, are the most powerful players at the Tower. And of those three, Cosmo is the most unpredictable. That makes him the most dangerous.¡± Billy fell silent as Elmer continued. ¡°As I was saying, after the CEOs saw how strong the Freelancers had become, they sent their people into the wilds to fight and level up,¡± Elmer continued. ¡°A cold war,¡± Calista chimed in. ¡°Both sides building up their strength and trying to stay ahead of the other.¡± ¡°Exactly. It worked, in a way. Their recklessness has cost the lives of forty-six people since you left. Another thirty-nine have joined the Freelancers ¨C the few that found themselves on the wrong side of their former bosses. Even that worked out for the CEOs, as they quickly banished their dissenters while framing us as the collective malcontents.¡± Elmer sighed as they passed the sixth floor. ¡°Everyone else? They doubled down in their loyalty to their CEOs and started following orders. All those previous level one players who were too scared to leave the towers? They finally left the tower and started to level up.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t mention Ms. Cook, the CEOs for the agriculture bureaucrats,¡± Calista observed curiously. A subtle smile appeared on Elmer¡¯s face. ¡°Well, it hasn¡¯t all been bad news. After Stone and Brass locked us out of the tower and threw us to the wolves¡­¡± Lightpaw¡¯s ears perked up, and Milly placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s just a human expression,¡± she whispered. ¡°It was goblins and ogres, not actual wolves.¡± Elmer raised a curious eyebrow before continuing. ¡°Ms. Cook ¨C Alison ¨C was absolutely livid. She had grown discontent with the direction of the other CEOs, but after the Battle of Tower Beach she pulled her people out of their alliance entirely.¡± ¡°Turns out, Ms. Cook and her staff weren¡¯t just gardening all this time,¡± Billy chimed in. ¡°Those farmers are a tough bunch, and a few of them, including Ms. Cook, had been sneaking into the wild every morning to hunt monsters. They were as powerful as some of our most advanced Freelancers.¡± ¡°After the CEOs sent their players into the wilds that day, Alison and her strongest employees marched into the CEOs¡¯ penthouse. I don¡¯t know exactly what happened, but the next evening, her team had laid claim to Tower Four and moved in. They had left nothing but bare walls behind in Tower One.¡± ¡°Fuck, she is a hell of a woman. Brilliant, powerful, and just a wee bit scary,¡± Billy praised. ¡°Yes, and she¡¯s waiting for us in the war room,¡± Elmer said, as they arrived at the penthouse. ¡°Because what happens next will shape the future of both the Freelancers and the Farmers.¡± Like the medical floor, the penthouse had started to resemble a proper war room. Four tables had been set up across the wide-open floor, paper maps purchased from the Emporia stretched over their surfaces. There was a map for each terrain, and dozens of tiny wooden figurines were placed on their surface. Milly watched in wonder as the figurines moved on their own across the map and flashed different colors. Lightpaw peeked his nose over the table and watched in fascination as one of the figures changed from white to red. Harriett strolled over to the fox, apparently unperturbed by the fairy¡¯s appearance. The artificial hand she had received after the Battle of Tower Beach was shaped into a short, straight-blade knife as she carved another figurine. ¡°Red means they are in a battle,¡± Harriett explained, touching the top of the figure gently with the knife. ¡°That¡¯s Mohammad¡¯s team. They¡¯re only an hour out, so they likely came across a goblin hunting party. It shouldn¡¯t take long ¨C Mohammad¡¯s team is one of our strongest.¡± The figurine shifted from red to white. ¡°There, see? White means they are on the move. Blue is healing. Red is fighting. Black is¡­ well, we don¡¯t want to see black. I can incorporate more colors and extend the map¡¯s range as I level up, but this is all I can do right now without taking more advanced artificer magic. That¡¯s a type of magic that lets me enchant objects like these figurines.¡± ¡°Such comforting magic,¡± Lightpaw praised. ¡°To know if your friends ¨C your family ¨C are safe and when they need help. It is a real gift. My people have wandered the terrains for generations, and we only know if our clans are safe when we arrive at the Gathering each year.¡± Harriett beamed with pride. ¡°Well, little fox, I don¡¯t know who you are, but any friend of Calista and Milly is a friend of mine. We¡¯re all busy on projects ¨C just trying to survive, you know ¨C but when things calm down, perhaps we can talk, and I can make one for your family.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. For the first time since they had arrived at the Castle of Glass, Lightpaw looked hopeful. ¡°I would like that,¡± he said gratefully. ¡°Unfortunately, calm may be a faint hope,¡± came a throaty, confident voice from the penthouse office. Alison Cook stood in the doorway and leaned against its frame. In her late forties, the bureaucrat carried herself with a casual confidence that belied her small stature. She wore a flowing green robe that stretched to her ankles and her long black hair was tied with a thick, thorny vine that slithered like a snake. She carried a quarterstaff, a green gemstone embedded at its pinnacle. Her heterochromatic eyes ¨C one green, one blue ¨C were calculating as she took in their new arrivals. ¡°Alison¡¯s bureaucrats and the Freelancers don¡¯t have an official alliance, but we¡¯ve been working closely together,¡± Elmer explained, moving to Alison¡¯s side. ¡°Between us, we have about a hundred and thirty players. Stone has over five hundred. But our collective numbers have been enough to dissuade the CEOs from open hostility. Our players were stronger. So they¡¯ve focused on leveling up their players and collecting equipment and magical items, just like us. The cold war materialized.¡± ¡°Except two days ago, things changed,¡± Alison added. ¡°The Event Timer was ticking down to another disaster. We were all getting desperate ¨C CEOs, Farmers, and Freelancers. None of us were ready for what the AI Director would throw at us. We weren¡¯t strong enough.¡± ¡°Exploring the local area ¨C the safe area ¨C wasn¡¯t adding very much to the event timer,¡± Billy explained. ¡°The deeper and more dangerous the exploration, the more time gets added.¡± ¡°So I called a meeting between the three factions of the Castle of Glass. Needless to say, it was a¡­ tense conversation,¡± Alison said. ¡°But we came to an agreement. The CEOs would head for the closest arena, and the Freelancers and Farmers would focus on developing the Castle of Glass¡¯ defenses and necessities. The wall, the barbecue pits, the farm. We couldn¡¯t keep living day-by-day, hoping for the best. We needed to plan for the long haul, and we all knew that. Even the CEOs.¡± Elmer stared out the window, his voice low. ¡°It felt like a betrayal. How many friends did we lose on the beach because the CEOs locked us out? Yet without some kind of peace, what hope did we have to survive this God Contest. So we set aside the hate, and we made the deal.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t realize what a mistake that was until they returned this morning,¡± Alison said. ¡°The CEOs had taken twenty of their players with them. Only three survived, along with the CEOs. But they beat the Arena of Domination, and the feat made them strong. Very strong, and it gave them equipment that eclipsed anything we have found exploring near the tower.¡± ¡°With that one victory, they¡¯d blown past all of us,¡± Elmer said, defeated. ¡°And cast themselves at the conquering heroes. The saviors of the tower. The completion of the Arena added fifty days to the Event Timer, saving us from its wrath, and, in the eyes of their loyal employees, solidified them as the leaders of the Castle of Glass.¡± ¡°As soon as they returned, Stone demanded that Elmer and I submit to their leadership. They¡¯ll be waiting on the beach now for our answer.¡± ¡°And if you don¡¯t?¡± Calista said, a defiant look in her eye. ¡°What do you think, huntress?¡± Alison said, her eyes flared. ¡°The CEOs believe their survival rests in having complete control of the Castle of Glass. I spent enough time alongside them to know that they will use any means necessary to build their power and survive. Just like they did with their companies back in our world.¡± ¡°They weren¡¯t successful companies,¡± Milly countered. ¡°They were failing companies, run by failing CEOs, housed in the worst real estate in the city.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s makes them so dangerous, witch, and you need to understand why. These three - they did not find the success they craved back in our world. EnergyWave was being sued and on the verge of bankruptcy, Legal Eagles was a two-bit law firm surviving on lackluster cases and reject lawyers¡­¡± ¡°Hey, some of us were decent,¡± Elmer half-heartedly protested. ¡°Well, one or two of us.¡± ¡°And Acicentre was being investigated by the government for fraud.¡± ¡°We were?¡± Milly and Calista said in unison, surprised. Alison nodded. ¡°I overheard Stone and his second-in-command, Joseph, talking about it. Stone would have spent the next five years of his life behind bars if the God Contest hadn¡¯t happened.¡± Alison moved to the window next to Elmer, staring out at the beach. ¡°These are people who craved wealth and control in our world, yet it was slipping through their fingers, their dreams unfulfilled. The God Contest is their second chance at glory ¨C at power ¨C and they will do anything to achieve it. They are desperate for it, and they are dangerous.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t the only ones who are dangerous,¡± Calista declared. She withdrew the Spear of Pinga from her inventory and clutched it in her hand. ¡°I won¡¯t let our friends become pawns in their power fantasies. And I made a promise to the fairies that I would find them a new home. I intend to keep that promise. Milly?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve faced worse than this today and survived,¡± Milly replied, though her stomach fluttered. She had faced down monsters this morning and won, yet the thought of confronting Stone filled her with anxiety. ¡°And Stone and Brass already declared me an enemy of the tower.¡± Elmer and Alison glanced at each other. ¡°We were hoping you¡¯d say that,¡± Elmer beamed. ¡°We didn¡¯t tell our people of their demand because they would want to fight. It would have escalated into war ¨C a war that we couldn¡¯t win. Alison and I were about to submit to them when you suddenly appeared.¡± ¡°Our math has changed,¡± Alison added, clutching her quarterstaff tightly. ¡°I spent a week alongside those assholes, and that was more than enough. I have no desire to be subservient to them.¡± ¡°Nor I. Ms. Brass wasn¡¯t a kind boss,¡± added Elmer. ¡°She was cruel and vindictive. Even if we were to surrender, I doubt our people would last long under their leadership. We¡¯d all be declared enemies of the tower, one by one.¡± ¡°The one good thing about the God Contest was no longer being employed at Acicentre,¡± Calista chimed in. ¡°Like hell I want to return to that. How much longer do you have to deliver an answer?¡± Elmer glanced at his watch. ¡°Fifteen minutes. We¡¯re to meet them on the beach.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Calista swore. ¡°Milly and I haven¡¯t leveled up yet, and we¡¯re still half-exhausted from this morning. I don¡¯t suppose we can ask for more time?¡± ¡°I once saw Judy fire an intern for bringing in her coffee two minutes late,¡± Elmer answered. ¡°Plus, they know you are back. The sooner we confront them, the less time they have to prepare.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do what we can along the way,¡± Calista said, and she turned to Lightpaw. ¡°Lightpaw, I want you to head back to your people. If we succeed, I¡¯ll return to the valley. If I¡¯m not there within the hour, take your people and move them away from the valley as quickly as you can.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Ms. Gale,¡± Lightpaw countered stoically, once again the Chief Elder. ¡°You know there is no safe place for my people in the wilds. This is our only hope. I will be there when you confront these CEOs, so I may advocate for my people. Just as you are an unexpected arrival, so too might I play such a role.¡± Calista wanted to disagree, but the Chief Elder¡¯s eyes were firm. ¡°Just promise me that if things go south, you¡¯ll run,¡± Calista asked, and the elderly fox nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s not waste time,¡± Elmer sighed, as he removed a steel double-headed axe from his inventory. ¡°I just want to make one stop,¡± Milly insisted, hitting the button for the second floor. ¡°There¡¯s a stash of magic potions I need to borrow.¡± Chapter 62 - The Price of Peace "Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." Albert Einstein ¡°You would bring these¡­ these malcontents with you to your surrender, Elmer,¡± Judy Brass accused, not bothering to hide her anger. The head of Legal Eagles wore a black robe that made her resemble a judge on the Supreme Court. The robe absorbed the sunlight and gave the woman an almost wraithlike presence. A judge¡¯s gavel hung at her waist, and she wore a unique ring of each of her fingers. ¡°You were always my most troublesome lawyer, but I didn¡¯t realize you were foolish as well.¡± ¡°Fuck you too, Judy,¡± came Elmer¡¯s simple reply. He clutched his axe at his side, not bothering with the pretense of civility. They met on the beach at the eastern ocean¡¯s edge, two lines of foes across from each other. The gentle rhythm of the waves belied the electric tension that arched between the three factions. Joseph, Stone¡¯s second-in-command, and Edna Carthage stood to either side of the CEOs, weapons at the ready. Either they didn¡¯t have time to adjust to Cally and my appearance, or they are just that confident. Judy started to return Elmer¡¯s insult, until Jacob Stone held up his hand and interrupted the angry CEO. ¡°Now, Judy. We can be civilized, even if they won¡¯t be. We are their bosses, after all. It falls to us to be the greater men. Plus, they have brought a guest, and I¡¯d hate to leave a bad impression,¡± Stone said, his eyes fixed curiously on the elder fox. Stone¡¯s new equipment made him look like a medieval knight adorned in heavy armor of ivory from neck to toe. He carried a white helm with gold stripes under his arm, had a glowing broadsword at his waist, and tower shield strapped to his back. ¡°What should we deal with first, renegades? Your submission? The monster you bring into our midst? Or have you simply come to fight?¡± Stone asked with practiced confidence. Calista stepped forward, spear in hand, as Milly placed her hand protectively on Lightpaw¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There will be no submission,¡± declared Alison, leaning on her staff. ¡°Your position isn¡¯t as strong as it was this morning, Stone. You are not the only ones to complete an arena.¡± Alison said we had to come in with a position of strength. I hope this works, or all hell might break loose. I wish Rain were here. She knows how to play these political games. ¡°You arrogant little shits,¡± spat Brass. ¡°We gave you a chance to return to the fold, and you spit in our faces. Your colleagues die every day, but you choose to let them die instead of helping them live. All you selfish little twats can think about is how much you hate your bosses.¡± ¡°We have every reason to hate you. You locked us out of the tower, and our friends died at our feet,¡± Milly shouted, as her anger eclipsed her anxiety. Salem¡¯s Fury bubbled beneath her skin, aching for release. ¡°Yes, we did,¡± Stone said, his voice cold and calculated. ¡°Your little band of rebels were a threat ¨C a greater threat than any monster that roamed the wilds. Remember that it was you who completed the first arena. You that triggered the next phase of the God Contest. We could have spent weeks building up our defenses and establishing a stable food supply before venturing further out into this game of death. We could have brought order to chaos. Instead, we had to scramble because you moved too fast ¨C thinking only of yourselves.¡± ¡°Locking you out of the tower was the logical decision,¡± Brass added, her eyes fixed on Lightpaw. ¡°If those monsters had entered the tower, it would have been a slaughter. Many of our employees ¨C your coworkers ¨C were still level one. They were scared, and they would have died where they cowered.¡± ¡°We saw the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and we took it,¡± finished Stone. ¡°I don¡¯t regret that decision. It was the right one to make, even if it did cost you a few friends.¡± Elmer¡¯s grip tightened on his axe as his face grew red with anger. Our friends died. Slaughtered on the beach we now stand on. I don¡¯t care if you believe your actions to be justified, Stone. Their blood is on your hands. ¡°Bullshit. You¡¯ve been playing games with our lives since day one. You declared me an enemy of the tower long before any of that happened, ¡± Milly accused. ¡°You were a useful tool,¡± Stone said, without emotion. ¡°A strangely dressed outcast that was too meek to fight back. You had little to offer but to be an object of fear that keep people together through mutual hate. It didn¡¯t take long to turn you to that purpose ¨C a whisper here and there. People thought you strange already. And my plan worked. The fear kept people united in those early days. I knew you would soon outlive your purpose, but I thought the game would take care of that loose end for me. I didn¡¯t expect someone as pathetic as you to survive more than a few days, let alone¡­¡± Stone abruptly stopped as the Spear of Pinga embedded in the sand between his legs. Its shaft quivered from the ferocity of Calista¡¯s throw. ¡°If I ever ¨C ever ¨C hear you speak like that to Milly again, your fancy armor won¡¯t stop me from thrusting my spear into your heart,¡± Calista said through gritted teeth. ¡°Oh, I think you¡¯d find this armor more than a match for this pitiful spear,¡± Stone said, flicking the spear¡¯s shaft with his finger. ¡°But you¡¯ve made your point, huntress.¡± ¡°Their surrender, Stone?¡± whispered Brass impatiently, her hand on her gavel. ¡°They refused our generous offer.¡± Joseph and Edna tensed. Joseph readied his weapon as Edna¡¯s hands began to glow. ¡°In a moment, my dear,¡± soothed Stone. ¡°You are always so impatient. There is another matter we must inquire about before we decide what to do about their refusal. Tell me, Ms. Gale. Before we force your submission, why did you bring a monster into our midst?¡± Shufflebottom perked up. He hadn¡¯t said a word since they¡¯d arrived. He stared at the cresting ocean waves, distracted and bored with their tense encounter. The EnergyWave CEO had been eclectic before the contest. The high-energy CEO dressed in neon clothing as if he¡¯d stopped evolving his wardrobe in the early 1990s and had positioned himself as his company¡¯s mascot as if he were Colonel Sanders. Now, after the Arena of Domination, Shufflebottom resembled a hybrid of a court jester and an elderly hippie. He had a ring of flowers in his hair and wore a motley purple and pink jester costume. He shuffled a deck of cards between his palms absentmindedly as he listened to their exchange. He turned from the waves and fixed his eyes on Lightpaw. ¡°Yes, I wish to know about the monster,¡± Shufflebottom replied. ¡°A pet? Or perhaps a familiar, as Edna¡¯s sister has obtained? A curiosity, to say the least.¡± Milly tensed anxiously as Lightpaw stepped forward to Calista¡¯s side. ¡°I am Lightpaw, the Chief Elder of the collective clans of the Fairies,¡± Lightpaw began tactfully. ¡°We are not monsters. Our people have roamed these lands for generations. But we were attacked by true monsters this morning. The Wolves of the Silver Lakes. Ms. Gale, Ms. Brown, Ms. Desjarlais, and a young man helped us repel their attack. But my people are decimated. Injured. Scared. We need a place to rebuild and live in peace, where the wolves will not find us and finish what they started.¡± ¡°That place is the Castle of Glass,¡± Calista jumped in, recalling her spear from between Stone¡¯s legs. ¡°We promised them safety, and we intend to deliver on that promise.¡± ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t realize the Castle of Glass was yours to offer?¡± Shufflebottom said curiously as he knelt to look Lightpaw in the eye. ¡°This world is so curious. Talking animals. Fascinating.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°The Castle of Glass is as much ours as it is yours,¡± insisted Calista. ¡°Yours?¡± Brass laughed cruelly, her eyes darting between Calista and Lightpaw with intense loathing. ¡°We paid the rent. We employed all of you. Legally, we are the closest thing to owners in this world. You¡¯re just some poorly educated office skank who earned minimum wage and was stuck at the bottom of society with the other riffraff, where you properly belong.¡± This time, it was Milly¡¯s turn to snap. A tiny lightning bolt from Milly¡¯s hands struck the ground at Brass¡¯s feet and melted the sand beneath her shoes. A thunderous boom reverberated down the beach, a warning of the strength contained within the witch. Joseph stepped forward, his mace ready to strike. Stone waved him down. ¡°I¡¯ll consider your¡­ unusual request, Chief Elder, after we deal with the issue at hand. So what will it be, Alison?¡± he asked expectedly. ¡°It would be better for all if you simply rejoined us and united our employees under our leadership.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t submit to you, Stone,¡± Alison answered. ¡°And you don¡¯t have the ability to overwhelm us in a fight anymore. Not with the witch and the huntress at our side.¡± Stone considered her words carefully, and then grinned at his former ally. ¡°No, we don¡¯t,¡± Stone admitted. He shrugged, as if the whole conversation had been nothing more than a business deal gone awry. ¡°So that leaves us three options. We can kill each other, return to our cold war, or¡­ perhaps there is a deal to be made.¡± ¡°A deal? You must be joking. You killed our friends,¡± Elmer hissed. ¡°How about you leave us the fuck alone, and I won¡¯t¡­¡± Alison laid a calming hand on his arm. ¡°I believe a deal would be in everyone¡¯s best interest,¡± Alison prompted, her eyes as calculating as Stone¡¯s. ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± I hate to admit it, but Alison is right. We can¡¯t survive this contest while watching for a knife in our back. And Lightpaw and his people need peace. Real peace. Not a false truce that might break down at any moment. ¡°Milly, you¡¯re up,¡± whispered Calista softly, so only Milly could hear. Milly focused intently on Stone and willed her Ceaseless Skepticism to the forefront of his mind. They knew a bargain was a possibility, and her talent gave them an edge. ¡°I¡¯ll make you a generous offer. More generous than rebels such as yourselves deserve,¡± Stone started. ¡°You may think me as a dictator ¨C shoddy employees such as you often consider their boss to be an evil dictator ¨C but my only goal is to do what is necessary to secure the safety of our staff.¡± Milly felt the telltale tingle in her spine. Lie. He¡¯s out for himself. He always has been. ¡°We stand a better chance of surviving as a single group. But since that no longer seems possible, we must find a way to work together, despite our rather intense dislike for each other.¡± Truth. He knows he lost his bargaining chip when we returned, and a war between us would only weaken him. ¡°So here is what I offer. We shall allow you to operate as independent factions, under certain conditions. You shall accept no more members into your ranks. You will proportionally share the bounty of the farm so that we shall not starve. And you will build the wall and the other projects that we need to fortify the Castle of Glass.¡± Truth. He knows he needs the food and security those projects offer. ¡°Do you think I am a fool, Stone?¡± interrupted Alison. ¡°You¡¯d have the Freelancers and the Farmers work the tower, while your people venture into the wilds and grow strong. How long until you outpace us? How long before we are back on this beach, with your foot against our necks. We will share in the bounty, but you will commit your people to work on the farm and the projects as well. We¡¯ll form a joint committee to govern building and food supply, with equal representation from all three factions.¡± ¡°Two factions,¡± Brass jumped in. ¡°You and Elmer may not have an official alliance, but you haven¡¯t left each other¡¯s side since the bureaucrats fractured away. No doubt you¡¯re sharing each other¡¯s beds as well, given how close you two have become.¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing no such thing, Brass,¡± Alison denied. Lie. Milly couldn¡¯t help but glance at Elmer with a little smile. Good for you, Elmer. She seems like a good woman. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve found a piece of happiness in this world. ¡°Two factions then, but equal representation from both. And we all help build and protect the Castle of Glass,¡± Alison compromised. The CEOs agreed to the compromise, and for a moment Milly felt the tug of hope inside her. ¡°And what about you denying membership to those who wish to join you?¡± Stone prompted. ¡°This is not negotiable. If you do not agree to this, there will be no deal.¡± Truth. He¡¯ll go to war over this. ¡°Our coworkers are not slaves, Stone,¡± Calista said. ¡°Nor is this our world, huntress. Our employees can¡¯t simply give two weeks notice and join another company. It would destabilize everything we have built and put our alliance at risk with every defection. And that¡­ that would put everyone¡¯s lives at risk.¡± ¡­ Truth, but not the full truth. He¡¯s hiding something. Elmer and Alison whispered to each other for a long time, locked in a quiet but heated debate. ¡°Five. We each get five people we can allow into our ranks from the other side,¡± Elmer finally said. ¡°That¡¯s less than one percent of your players, Stone. If you cannot deal with such a small number, your hold on your people must be weak.¡± Stone beamed in delight. ¡°Deal,¡± he said, before Brass and Shufflebottom could protest. ¡°This is a concession I¡¯m more than happy to give.¡± Truth. Truth? Why? He said this condition was non-negotiable. How does¡­ Milly saw it, the mistake they had made, and the opportunity Stone had seized. Shit. In Stone¡¯s proposal, the CEOs would have been the bad guy. They¡¯d have to tell people they couldn¡¯t leave. But now that¡¯s been flipped on its head. The Freelancers and the Farmers are the ones who have to tell people they can¡¯t join. That they are not good enough to be one of the five. That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s such a fucking management move! Delegating down the blame while taking all the credit. ¡°We can work out the finer details in that committee,¡± Stone said with a false smile. ¡°In return for this agreement, neither side shall initiate hostilities against the other. We¡¯ll put on a brave public face and work together, and we can go about hating each other behind the privacy of closed doors.¡± Truth. Until it no longer suits them. We¡¯ll still need to keep up with them, or they¡¯ll end this deal the moment our collective strength falls too far behind them. ¡°I¡¯ll have one of my lawyers draw up the documents and¡­¡± Brass concluded as she started to walk towards the Castle of Glass, anxious to leave their company. ¡°We don¡¯t have an agreement yet, Brass,¡± Calista said, jumping in despite Elmer and Alison¡¯s protests. ¡°We still have the matter of Lightpaw¡¯s people.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, your fairies,¡± considered Stone. ¡°I believe¡­¡± Brass twisted her head towards the fairy, her face a mask of fury. ¡°I will not share my home with a bunch of filthy monsters,¡± Brass spat with sudden venom, interrupting Stone. Stone looked at the CEO, and, for a brief moment, Milly caught a glimpse of anger behind his calculating expression. Except this time, Stone¡¯s anger was directed at his fellow CEO, not at his rivals across the sand. Brass did not notice. Her eyes shot daggers at Lightpaw, reflecting an intense hatred for the fairy. ¡°Yes, well, I suppose having these creatures live at the Castle of Glass would be too much for¡­ some people. You must understand, Elder, that our employees have been slain by creatures from the wilds since we arrived here. Goblins. Ogres. All manner of mythical creatures that existed only in our stories. However, I believe I have a proposal that would be beneficial for both of us.¡± Truth. Milly was shocked. She¡¯d thought Stone would be adamantly opposed to the fairies, yet Stone¡¯s demeanor reflected not the hatred found in Brass, but the promise of unexpected opportunity. ¡°You cannot be serious, Stone. They¡¯ll kill us in our sleep,¡± Brass protested, losing all remaining sense of composure and comradery with her fellow CEOs. ¡°They¡¯ll ally with these rebels and try to overwhelm us.¡± ¡°My people are peaceful folk,¡± the Chief Elder said calmly, his head slightly bowed. ¡°We would do nothing to jeopardize the peace you have agreed to here, and we shall take no sides. We are resourceful and can hunt and forage for ourselves, so we will not be a burden. We have magic that may help you ¨C healing and earth and wind ¨C and stories of our journeys throughout the wilds, passed down since the first generations.¡± ¡°A potential treasure-trove of information,¡± whispered Shufflebottom to Stone, just loud enough for Milly to hear. ¡°And a source of labour. Plus, they¡¯re just so darn cute.¡± ¡°Indeed, Shufflebottom,¡± agreed Stone. ¡°Very well, Chief Elder. We will allow your people to live near the Castle of Glass, though your people shall not enter its walls without the permission of all faction leaders. In return, you will contribute fifty percent of all your foraging and hunting production to the Castle of Glass ¨C a tithe to compensate us for our generosity and protection ¨C to be distributed proportionally to the factions. This is our offer if your people wish to settle here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s highway robbery!¡± shouted Calista, outraged. ¡°Half of everything? They are just trying to survive.¡± ¡°So are we, Ms. Gale,¡± Stone answered. ¡°And we protect our own people first.¡± ¡°I¡­ agree with Mr. Stone,¡± Alison chimed in. Calista looked like she¡¯d been stabbed in the heart. ¡°Huntress, as loathed as I am to admit it, the CEO of Acicentre is right. We¡¯re all just trying to survive in a world designed to kill us one-by-one. We need every advantage we can get, and the food that the Fairies would bring in grants us time we need to grow stronger. It is a fair offer.¡± ¡°It is¡­ acceptable,¡± the Chief Elder decided, and he bowed to each of them. ¡°You have given my people a chance, and I thank you for it. We will do our part to help both our people survive in these troubled times.¡± ¡°Then we have an accord,¡± Stone announced, clapping his hands together with finality. ¡°We shall hold a joint announcement tonight after our people return from the wilds. A celebration of peace, and of victories in the arenas that bought us three months to prepare.¡± Stone strode into the middle of the sand, extending his arm. Elmer and Alison glanced at each other and reluctantly joined him, their deal sealed in a handshake. A temporary peace was reached, though the hatreds that had formed between the factions lay just under the surface. As each faction leader departed to prepare for the evening¡¯s announcement, Milly couldn¡¯t shake the anxiety that had settled in her stomach. It had been too easy, and easy things, in her experience, rarely came without an unexpected price. ¡°Come on, beautiful,¡± Calista urged, her hand wrapped within Milly¡¯s. ¡°Let¡¯s bring the fairies to their new home.¡± Chapter 63 - Relationship Evolved "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher The darkness of night had long settled over the Castle of Glass when the last of fairies appeared beneath the Waypoint Pillar. Sapphire and her remaining warriors, who had refused to leave until every other fairy was safe in their new home, appeared exhausted as duty finally gave way to grief. They left their dead in the valley, in rows ninety long and ten deep, to await burial when the morning sun crested over the horizon. ¡°Lightpaw and the others are to the north, Sapphire,¡± Milly yawned, directing her across the sandy eastern beach. ¡°Just follow the footprints, and Nobori will be there to guide you when you reach the pines. They found a place to begin to rebuild where the ocean meets the mountain. There¡¯s a pleasant inlet there, so the Eastern Waves will have access to the ocean.¡± ¡°Thanks Milly,¡± Sapphire mumbled, her eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. She glanced at the shining towers that rose above her in the night, a lighthouse for her people. ¡°It¡¯s going to take some getting used to.¡± Milly held Sapphire back as her warriors moved across the beach. ¡°The healers didn¡¯t get to you?¡± she asked, as she traced her finger over the cuts that crisscrossed Sapphire¡¯s arms. ¡°The healers are just as exhausted as my warriors,¡± Sapphire replied. ¡°I¡¯m not a priority. There were others ¨C children and the elderly ¨C who needed their magic more than I did.¡± Milly¡¯s hands glowed healing blue as she gently held Sapphire¡¯s scaled arms. Her wounds began to heal. ¡°You¡¯re a priority now, Sapphire. Your people need you to lead. They are scared, and they need you to be healthy and strong for them.¡± Sapphire didn¡¯t protest, a testament to the exhaustion and sorrow that had settled over the elder of the Kinship of the Eastern Wave. She had held back her emotions during the battle and the hours that followed, but even she had her limits. The cuts on Sapphire arm scabbed over enough to get her through to the morning without infection. ¡°Go get some sleep,¡± Milly instructed as her magical glow faded. ¡°We¡¯ve all got some long days ahead of us.¡± Sapphire nodded her agreement and stumbled her way across the sand to rejoin her warriors. They marched towards their new home, with only the sound of the breaking ocean waves to fill the mournful silence that fell over them. Calista jogged across the sand just as Milly watched Sapphire disappear into the pines with Nobori. ¡°How¡¯d the town hall go, Cally?¡± Milly asked as another yawn escaped her. Her eyelids felt heavy, and her own words sounded distant as exhaustion took hold. ¡°About as expected,¡± Calista answered, as she mirrored Milly¡¯s yawn. She waved her hand across her face to try to keep herself awake. ¡°Cheers and tears, and more than a little Freelancer outrage that we would make such an agreement with the CEOs. I can¡¯t say I blame them. Elmer and I spent the last hour trying to calm down those who were closest to Matt, Veronica, and the others who died in the Battle of Tower Beach. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll do anything stupid, but Elmer will keep an eye on a couple of them, just in case.¡± In the distance, the sound of celebration began to fill the air as hundreds of players gathered to celebrate the defeat of the arenas and the addition of three months to the Event Timer. The smell of roasted boar and mushrooms wafted on the breeze. Stone and Brass stood on a table as they soaked in accolades, and the strum of a guitar began to send its notes into the night. Milly looked for the origin of the notes and was shocked to see Shufflebottom ¨C still clad in his jester outfit ¨C seated on a chair with a simple acoustic guitar. ¡°A guitar. Can you believe that? Apparently Shufflebottom kept one in his office and would practice during work. He¡¯s talking about building a stage for performances once the wall is complete.¡± ¡°Do you¡­ want to go watch?¡± Milly asked, her question interrupted by another yawn. She stepped and stumbled, as exhaustion threatened to finally claim her. ¡°We could¡­ learn more about¡­ him¡­¡± Calista scooped her girlfriend off her feet and into her arms, a wicked smile on her face. Milly gave a surprised squeal, then quickly nestled her head into the softness of Calista¡¯s white dress. ¡°I¡¯ve got a better idea,¡± Calista whispered in Milly¡¯s ear. ¡°Come on, love. Elmer arranged a surprise for us, and I can¡¯t wait to show you.¡± * * * Calista still carried Milly in her arms when the elevator opened to the fourteenth floor of Freelancer Tower.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Welcome home, love,¡± she announced with a flourish as she carried Milly across the threshold. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Home?¡± Milly whispered, as she stared across the empty floor. Like all the floors in Freelancer Tower, this one was permeated with the musky scent of disuse and had random stains on the ceiling and carpet. The large windows were cracked. It was open-concept and empty, save for a collection of old mousetraps along the heating registers and a wooden chair with three legs. A tiny staff kitchen, men and women¡¯s washrooms, and four executive-sized offices ¨C one in each corner were all that comprised the floor¡¯s developed space. ¡°It¡¯s a fixer-upper, I¡¯ll admit,¡± laughed Calista as she watched Milly take it all in. ¡°But it¡¯s ours. You and me, and Rain when she can leave the medical floor. She can¡¯t keep living in that closet in her shop. Elmer insisted that we have our own space, and I didn¡¯t have the heart to disagree with him.¡± ¡°Home?¡± Milly asked again, speechless. I¡¯ve never had a real home. I had started to think that way about the Castle of Glass, but this is just so much more¡­ real. It¡¯s a place to call my¡­ our¡­ own. ¡°Our home. What do you think?¡± Calista asked expectantly. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s perfect, Cally,¡± Milly finally got out, overwhelmed with emotion. It¡¯s the most beautiful gift in the world. In any world. ¡°Good, because I have something else for you,¡± Calista whispered in Milly¡¯s ear as her voice took on a sultrier tone. ¡°Something I hope you¡¯ll like even more.¡± Calista carried Milly to the southeast corner office. It¡¯s windows overlooked rolling ocean waves and gently swaying jungle branches. Music from the celebrations below snuck in through the cracks in the window and bathed the office ¨C their bedroom ¨C in pleasant, muffled strums. Their queen-sized bed, which they had bought from the Emporia the night before they ventured into the wilds, had been moved and now rested against the ocean-view window, its blankets and pillows invitingly arranged. Milly stared at the bed, then at the seductive sparkle in Calista¡¯s eyes, and she suddenly knew what Calista had in mind. Her heart began to race. ¡°You know, beautiful,¡± Calista whispered as she leaned down and nibbled Milly¡¯s ear. ¡°This the first night we¡¯ve had to ourselves.¡± ¡°Cally¡­¡± Milly breathed as her face flushed and warmth spread within her. She squirmed in Calista¡¯s arms, as exhaustion fled her mind and Calista¡¯s touch filled her every thought. ¡°I almost lost you today,¡± Calista continued as she slowly planted tiny kisses in wandering path from Milly¡¯s ear to her throat. ¡°Milly¡­ I need you.¡± Milly¡¯s chest felt tight as Calista¡¯s kisses grew more urgent and moved to her shoulder, her hand sliding up Milly¡¯s thigh and under her gown. ¡°Cally¡­¡± Milly repeated, at a loss for words. She felt desire spread through her, and she knew she wanted it as badly as Calista. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t stop.¡± It was what Calista needed to hear. Their lips locked into a passionate kiss as Calista carried Milly to their bed and laid her down gently. Their tongues intertwined as their kisses grew more urgent, until Calista finally broke away, chest heaving, and eyes filled with unbridled lust. ¡°Cally¡­ I¡¯ve... I¡¯ve never¡­¡± Milly stumbled, as arousal mixed with anxiety. Her insecurities surfaced and threatened to pull her out of the moment. ¡°What¡­ what if I¡¯m no good¡­¡± Calista placed her finger on Milly¡¯s lips with a wicked smile. She swung her legs across Milly and straddled her waist, her face filled with confidence. Milly could feel Calista¡¯s heat against hers, and her heart threatened to erupt from her chest. ¡°You just leave it to me,¡± Calista purred, as she teasingly lifted her white Amazon dress to her waist, her eyes never leaving Milly¡¯s. ¡°You like?¡± Calista teased. Milly just stared wide-eyed, but her hands found Calista¡¯s hips. Calista raised her dress higher, revealing her toned belly, until it reached the bottom of her breasts. Milly gulped, heat rising within her, as Calista lifted the dress past her breasts and over her head. Calista threw the dress to the ground with a playful flourish and leaned over until her breasts were tantalizingly close to touching Milly. ¡°I want you, Milly,¡± Calista breathed in Milly¡¯s ear. ¡°I want you so badly. I love you, and I need to feel every inch of you.¡± ¡°I love you too, Cally,¡± Milly said, without hesitation. The words felt right, and she knew, in the deepest depths of her heart, that they were words she would say for the rest of their lives, however long that may be. Calista flushed, any lingering doubts of their feelings for each other cast away with those three simple words. She began to kiss her way down Milly¡¯s body as her hands caressed Milly¡¯s sides. She let her breasts slide down Milly¡¯s stomach. Milly squirmed under Calista, and her hands found their way to Calista¡¯s short, red hair, her desire growing with every moment that passed. Her fingers feathered through Calista¡¯s strands as Calista¡¯s urgent kisses moved lower with each one. ¡°Cally¡­ please¡­ I need you.¡± There was a delicate snap, and Calista¡¯s bra landed on the pillow next to Milly as Calista¡¯s kisses flowed down Milly¡¯s leg. Milly felt her chest grow hot as she glanced at the lacey bra ¨C Calista¡¯s only bra ¨C torn in half a dozen places after two weeks in the God Contest. She could feel Calista¡¯s bare breasts pressed against her legs, and suddenly Milly was very aware of how unkept she was after a week of living and fighting in the wilds. ¡°Cally, I¡¯m not¡­ I haven¡¯t¡­¡± Milly started, but as Calista looked up, Milly could see Calista¡¯s face was as flush as hers, her desperate desire plain as day. ¡°My love. My Milly. You¡¯re beautiful. You¡¯re the most beautiful woman in the world,¡± Calista said, as she gently ¨C teasingly ¨C lifted Milly¡¯s gown above her waist and began to kiss her inner thighs. ¡°I love you just the way you are.¡± ¡°Cally, what are¡­ oh¡­ oh god,¡± Milly moaned as Calista moved higher, and the last remnants of Milly¡¯s hesitation vanished in an instant. Milly¡¯s fingers dug into Calista¡¯s scarlet locks as Milly¡¯s own lust consumed all else. ¡°Oh¡­ Cally¡­¡± * * * They made love into the late hours of the night, long after the last of the revelers below retreated to their cubicles. Milly learned quickly, and soon it was Calista¡¯s moans that echoed through their new home. Eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed the lovers, and they fell asleep, curled in each other¡¯s arms as the world fell silent around them. For one night ¨C for one brief, wonderful night ¨C Milly didn¡¯t think about the God Contest. She didn¡¯t think about her past life and the painful loneliness that had filled it. She didn¡¯t think about the death that surrounded them, or the anger and fear that found its home in death¡¯s wake. All that occupied her thoughts as she drifted into a peaceful slumber was the woman lying naked in her arms. The woman who snored like a banshee. Whom she had found in a nightmare. Whom she had grown to love. Chapter 64 - Pillow Talk "Pillow talk is the strongest conversation on the planet." No I.D., American Musician ¡°There are a lot of useless choices in here, aren¡¯t there, honey,¡± Calista said as she flipped through the class advancement screen projected on the ceiling. They lay naked in their bed, Calista¡¯s head nestled comfortably on Milly¡¯s shoulder and their legs intertwined, as they searched through their level up choices. They had woken up an hour ago, although concepts such as dressing and getting out of bed were the furthest thing from their thoughts. Their efforts to pick their new abilities were continually interrupted by playful kisses and pinches that quickly turned into more. Milly wasn¡¯t looking at Calista¡¯s player screen on the ceiling. She was staring down at her naked girlfriend, her mind filled with memories of the previous night. She watched Calista¡¯s breasts rise and fall with each breath, and smiled as Calista unconsciously rubbed the spot on her thigh that Milly had playfully bitten. She had enjoyed that little nibble. ¡°There¡¯s a class called Debutante, Milly. Debutant, of all things. It gives the player a ten-point boost to agility and grants them expertise in fancy dances,¡± Calista scoffed as she dismissed it from the list of options. ¡°The only arena we¡¯d win with that class would be the Arena of Pretentious Nonsense.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know,¡± Milly said dreamily. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you in a formal dress, trying to make small talk with a king or whatever.¡± ¡°Oh, I think the king seduction would be on you, Persephone,¡± teased Calista, drawing out every syllable of Milly¡¯s middle name. Milly pinched Calista playfully on the thigh and was rewarded with an adorable yelp. ¡°Not a chance,¡± Milly said. ¡°Perhaps the AI Director could create a special scenario for you,¡± Calista mused. ¡°You¡¯d have to wear a puffy pink dress, and we¡¯d win if you managed to seduce the queen.¡± Milly removed her spectacles and stared into the lenses. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, Luna,¡± she mouthed silently. A slight sparkle of reflected sunlight was the only response she received from the artificial being beyond the glass. ¡°What about that one?¡± Milly asked, quickly changing the topic. ¡°The Feng Shui Consultant? Seriously?¡± ¡°Well, we do need to decorate our new home,¡± Milly laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve never really had to decorate a home before. Or really had a home at all. And, for all we know, decorating could matter in this game. I remember Xavier ranting about a game like that once, I think.¡± Calista opened the description out of curiosity and cackled with laughter. ¡°Holy shit, honey. You¡¯re not far off. It¡¯s a class that can design rooms to provide temporary enhancements for a player. It¡¯s a bit like how Billy¡¯s spatula allows him to imbue attribute bonuses into the food he makes, only for this class the player needs to spend six hours in the room. Oh, that reminds me. We need to talk to Billy about those special ingredients we received from defeating Gorath and Fairy Killer.¡± ¡°Eww. I really don¡¯t want to eat giant wolf roast or Gorath¡¯s¡­ ugg¡­ fingers,¡± Milly gagged. ¡°But we should tell Elmer and Alison about this Feng Shui class. It could be powerful in the hands of the right person.¡± ¡°Yah,¡± Calista sighed as she returned to the endless list of possible classes. ¡°But that person is not me. I like shopping. I like decorating. But that class has detailed rules, which I don¡¯t like. There¡¯s got to be something else in here¡­¡± ¡°Cally, you¡¯re not going to find something better than that specialty class you got,¡± Milly nudged. ¡°I tried to find something more powerful when I received The Scarred Witch, and none of the common classes are even close.¡± ¡°Yah, but¡­ the specialty it gave me¡­ it just doesn¡¯t feel right, you know. Plus, I don¡¯t trust this AI Director. He¡¯s got to be fucking around with us, right?¡± Milly gave a noncommittal shrug, and Calista brought up her specialty class with a groan.
Specialty Class: The Battlefield Commander The Battlefield Commander holds the lives of her comrades and her people in the palm of her hand. Leading from the front and surrounded by those who fight under her banner, she stands alone with the weight of responsibility. The price of defeat lies heavy on her shoulders, and the cost of victory lies heavier still, yet no civilization can survive without she who bears this burden.
¡°See, that¡¯s just horribly depressing,¡± said Calista. ¡°That¡¯s exactly how I felt yesterday, and at the Battle of Tower Beach. I gave the orders, and fairies died. Win or lose, I still feel like a shitty, shitty person.¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why the AI Director gave it to you,¡± Milly said, stroking her fingers through Calista¡¯s hair to comfort her. ¡°Because you already know what it means to bear that burden.¡± ¡°Oh, that feels good, honey,¡± Calista purred at Milly¡¯s touch. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t know if I want to feel that way again. I don¡¯t know if I should be the one leading.¡± Milly wrapped her arms across Calista¡¯s chest and kissed her forehead. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, there would be no fairies. There would be no Freelancers. Cally, this class is meant for you. And despite what it says, you won¡¯t be alone. I¡¯ll be there by your side. Always.¡± Calista gave a reluctant sigh and scrolled down to the details.
The Battlefield Commander specialty class grants the following to the player: Soldier¡¯s Morale: The Battlefield Commander¡¯s presence on the battlefield greatly boosts the morale of her soldiers. All players fighting under the command of the Battlefield Commander, as well as the Commander herself, receive a twenty percent boost to all attributes. The Adaptable Strategist: The Battlefield Commander possesses an endless repertoire of tactics, maneuvers, and fighting skills to find victory in battle. She gains access to the next tier of battlefield talents, including combat, mobilization and battalion talents. She immediately gains two battlefield talent points and gains a battlefield talent point every two levels, in addition to the standard talent point progression.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Unstoppable Force: The Battlefield Commander is an unstoppable force on the battlefield. She immediately increases her strength and toughness attributes by twenty. The Price of Command: The Battlefield Commander is a noble and visible presence on the battlefield and in the war room. All lone wolf, thief, and assassin talents are permanently unavailable to the player. Coward¡¯s Folly: The Battlefield Commander¡¯s reputation lies in victory. Although she knows retreat is always an option, she also knows its cost. If the Battlefield Commander retreats from the battlefield, the benefits of Soldier¡¯s Morale are reversed. The attributes of all players fighting under the banner of the Battlefield Commander, including herself, will have their attributes penalized by twenty percent. This effect lasts for one week, and the effects are cumulative if there are subsequent retreats.
¡°I¡¯m a huntress, Milly,¡± protested Calista. ¡°The assassin branch has all kinds of useful stealth skills that would be perfect for it. So does the lone wolf. I had my eyes set on a couple good ones there. Is it so bad to just want to wander the wilds, hunting for boar and elk?¡± ¡°Lone wolf? Weren¡¯t you mad at me for going off on my own at the Gathering?¡± Milly asked. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t mad because you went off on your own. I was mad because you lied to me. But that reminds me¡­¡± Calista smirked, and she slapped Milly¡¯s bare butt. Milly yelped in surprise. ¡°Cally¡­,¡± Milly whined in protest, as she rubbed her stinging bottom. ¡°We went through too much shit yesterday for me to stay mad at you, but don¡¯t you lie to me again,¡± Calista said with a serious edge. ¡°Cally, I won¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t tell me something because of this stupid contest or whatever, then tell me that. Just don¡¯t lie to me,¡± Cally reiterated. ¡°I won¡¯t, Cally. I promise,¡± Milly said. ¡°I just¡­ this whole relationship thing is new to me, and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to make another mistake and screw this all up. You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re the best thing to ever happen to me. I don¡¯t want to lose you.¡± Calista shifted and climbed atop Milly, her hands gently resting on Milly¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re going to make mistakes. I¡¯m going to make mistakes. And we¡¯ll get through them together, okay?¡± Milly nodded slightly, and the feeling of Calista¡¯s body on top of hers brought up memories from the previous night. In an instant, Milly¡¯s heart was pounding in her chest, and Milly knew Calista could feel the heartbeat against her skin. Calista gave Milly a wicked grin and leaned down to kiss her neck. ¡°One more time before we start the day, beautiful?¡± she purred in Milly¡¯s ear. Calista traced a trail of kisses down Milly¡¯s shoulders, headed for her breasts. ¡°Wait¡­ no, Cally,¡± Milly protested weakly. ¡°Your class¡­ we¡­ we need to finish¡­first¡­¡± Milly had to force out each word past her building desire as Calista reached the top of her breasts. Calista glanced towards the class selection screen above them and sighed. ¡°Are you already using sex to get what you want?¡± Calista said playfully as her fingers gently danced across Milly¡¯s stomach. ¡°You think that will work?¡± Milly tried to return her tease, but all that that emerged was a adorable and desperate whimper. Calista bit her lip at her girlfriend¡¯s response. ¡°You win. Totally worth it,¡± Calista said without hesitation. She mentally accepted the Battlefield Commander class as she leaned in and resumed her trail of kisses, their bodies pressed tightly together. The system congratulation message for selecting a class went unnoticed.
Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 26 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: Base: 24 Enhanced: 39 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor, +7 from Obsidian Fists) Agility: Base: 24 Enhanced: 39 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 34 Enhanced: 38 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: Base: 48 Enhanced: 73 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (beginner), Earth (advanced), Water (beginner), Air (beginner) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (beginner), Healer¡¯s Aura (beginner) Psychic - Telekinesis (beginner) Combat ¨C Hand-to-hand (beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Talents: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Equipment Benefits: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)
Calista Gale Level: 25 Specialty: Reluctant Leader Class: Battlefield Commander Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 34 Enhanced: 48 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: Base: 21 Enhanced: 37 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +10 from Talaria of Mercury) Toughness: Base: 35 Enhanced: 38 (+3 Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Magic: Base: 15 Enhanced: 19 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Shield ¨C Augmented Protective Shield (beginner, enhanced by Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Defensive ¨C Defensive Instincts (beginner) Combat - Spear Specialist (intermediate) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner), Battlefield Stabilization (beginner) Mobilization ¨C Wilderness Logistics (beginner), Enhanced scrounging (beginner) Battalion ¨C Battlefield communication (beginner) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector Class Talents: Soldier¡¯s Morale, The Adaptable Strategist, Unstoppable Force, The Price of Command, Coward¡¯s Folly Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga) Improved Perception (advanced, Huntress'' Scrunchy) Companion of Artemis (Luna''s Pendant of the Journey) Double Speed (Talaria of Mercury) Temporary Flight (5 seconds, Talaria of Mercury) Leave No Trace (Talaria of Mercury)
Rain Desjarlais Level: 22 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: None (Class Available) Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 15 Enhanced: 15 Agility: Base: 14 Enhanced: 20 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 15 Enhanced: 24 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +3 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: Base: 14 Enhanced: 22 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) (6 attribute points available) Talents: Alchemy - Nature''s Bounty, Alchemy (beginner), Combat - Dagger Specialist (beginner) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (beginner) (Talent point available, 3 class talents available) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Features: None Sub-Class Features: None Equipment Benefits: Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination)
Chapter 65 - Bedside Company "We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression." Confucius, Chinese Philosopher ¡°We stabilized her last night, but it¡¯ll be a week before she wakes up,¡± Ying informed Milly as Milly sat at Rain¡¯s bedside. ¡°Her internal bleeding has stopped, and her fractured ribs are on the mend, though my team still has much work to do.¡± ¡°And her leg?¡± Milly asked quietly as she stared at the mangled limb. ¡°Thankfully, it will heal,¡± Ying answered, and Milly felt a weight lift off her shoulders. ¡°Those fairy healers knew what they were doing. I¡¯ll need to speak with their Chief about how we can share our healers and learn from each other.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be interested,¡± Milly assured her. She tore her gaze away from Rain¡¯s leg and looked towards the southeast corner, where a team of healers hovered over Xavier¡¯s unconscious form. ¡°And¡­ Xavier?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in rough shape. My team was up all night repairing his skull and stabilizing him. I¡¯ll spare you the gruesome details. He¡¯ll make it, but he won¡¯t wake up for a couple of weeks.¡± Ying waved her hand towards the eastern row of cots. ¡°Rain and Xavier aren¡¯t the only ones injured like this. We have a dozen other Freelancers who have badly hurt in the field. Healer¡¯s Touch does wonders for mending injuries, but the process takes its toll on the body. I¡¯m hopeful that there will be higher-tier healing spells that won¡¯t have such a high cost to the patient, but it will be a long while before anyone is strong enough to pick them.¡± ¡°He¡¯s going to be angry when he wakes up,¡± Milly said worriedly. ¡°All the time he¡¯s losing, just lying there. He¡¯ll fall so far behind everyone else.¡± ¡°Better behind than dead,¡± Ying remarked. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve got to do the rounds, Milly. You can stay with Rain for the next hour, but after that you¡¯ll have to go. We¡¯ve had to space out our visitors to keep a sense of order around here.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± whispered Milly as she gently held Rain¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh, and if you would keep that new Aura of yours active, that would be wonderful,¡± Ying added as she strolled to the team healing Xavier. ¡°It helps us stretch our magic a bit further. I¡¯ll have Tyrell pick that talent when he hits level fifteen.¡± Milly glanced down at the transparent pink aura that pulsed out from her feet in a steady rhythm, its complex symbols floating within the circle as if they were ducks on a pond. Healer¡¯s Aura was the first talent she picked when she and Calista had leveled up. It was a second-tier spell that enhanced all other healing magics within its area, which was large enough to cover the entire medical floor. ¡°I will. Thanks Ying,¡± Milly said gratefully. ¡°For everything.¡± Ying left, and Milly stared out of Rain¡¯s bedside window as she listened to her best friend¡¯s labored breath. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ll get to pick your class while unconscious, like I did,¡± Milly finally said, trying to fill the silence. ¡°I want to hear all about it, so you¡¯d better wake up soon.¡± She gently stroked Rain¡¯s hair, working through the tangles that had become permanent fixtures for all three of them. Spotting some dried blood behind Rain¡¯s ear, Milly weaved a tiny jet of water and gently washed the blood away, depositing it into a bucket a Rain¡¯s bedside. ¡°I evolved my water magic this morning,¡± Milly told her, uncertain if Rain could hear her. ¡°From beginner to advanced. My water magic is more powerful, but I also have better control. That¡¯s why I could¡­ could wash away your blood like that. It¡¯s simple to do now, but I would never have been able to do something that required that level of control before. You would have been soaked, as if I¡¯d turned a firehose on you.¡± Milly coughed as she tried to stave off her sorrow. Rain lay skill, without sign she heard anything Milly said.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°When you¡¯re all better, we¡­ Cally and I¡­ thought the three of us could go explore some of the nearby islands in the eastern ocean. A little vacation to get away from all the¡­ all the fighting¡­ just for a few days. Sapphire offered to guide us, and Samson ¨C he¡¯s a Farmer who is specializing in shipbuilding ¨C offered to build us a fancy raft. I¡¯ve never been on the ocean before. I hope I don¡¯t get seasick.¡± Milly sniffed to choke back her emotions. ¡°I evolved my Healer¡¯s Touch to advanced, so maybe that can help with the sea sickness. And¡­ and with Healer¡¯s Touch and Healer¡¯s Aura, I hope it is enough to keep you safe. I should have been able to keep you safe yesterday, Rain. I¡¯ll do better next time¡­ I promise.¡± Guilt clutched Milly¡¯s heart. A tear built in the corner of her eye, which she wiped away irritably with the back of her hand. She desperately wanted to reach out and pour her newly advanced healing magic into Rain¡¯s mangled leg, but Ying had advised against it. ¡°Healer¡¯s Touch accelerates the target¡¯s natural healing,¡± Ying had instructed her. ¡°But the source of the healing still comes from the body. Proteins, fat, and vitamins ¨C the spell will take anything it needs to repair bone, muscle, skin, and organs. So if the body doesn¡¯t get time to rest ¨C and if it doesn¡¯t get fed ¨C the healing will eventually do more harm than good. So we have to go slow.¡± I feel so helpless. I¡¯m more powerful than all the medics, but all I can do is sit here and talk to her. ¡°Cally¡­ Cally didn¡¯t like her new Battlefield Commander class at first,¡± Milly continued. ¡°But it turns out the class has a lot of diversity. It¡¯s not just about battle. It covers everything that an army ¨C and apparently you, me, and Cally count as an army ¨C needs to travel the wilds. The class is as much about exploration as it is fighting.¡± Rain twitched, and Milly held her breath hopefully, but she fell still once more. ¡°She picked a bunch of new talents,¡± Milly went on. ¡°Wilderness Logistics lets her summon a mobile Tutoria Emporia and Mission Board to wherever we are, so we don¡¯t need to worry about returning to the Castle of Glass to turn in missions or buy items. Enhanced Scrounging increases the gold we find in the wild by twenty percent and has a chance to increase the rarity of the treasure. Battlefield Communication allows Cally to telepathically communicate with her captains across a three-mile radius. She made me a captain, and¡­ and she can make you one too¡­ when you wake up¡­ I¡¯ll be like having cell phones. I never had a¡­ a phone before.¡± Tears fell onto Milly¡¯s lap as she abandoned her attempt to hold them back. ¡°Battle¡­ Battlefield Stabilization lets her put critically injured soldiers into stasis for a day, so they can be transported to a healer. I was going to take a similar talent from the healing section in the talent web, but her version was better. I wish¡­ I wish we¡¯d had it yesterday, so we could have saved you from this pain.¡± Milly felt her emotions begin to spiral as grief butted up against the joy she had found in Calista¡¯s arms only hours before. The conflict fueled her guilt, and in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be anywhere else but at Rain¡¯s bedside. The realization added more guilt to her growing tangle of emotions. Stop being selfish, Milly. Rain¡­ she needs you. Don¡¯t leave her just lying here, all alone. And you shouldn¡¯t be happy ¨C its not fair to her if you are happy. ¡°I¡­ I made Cally take the same Regeneration talent I she made me take. And she picked a talent called Defensive Instincts that she¡¯d had her eyes on for a while,¡± Milly spoke quickly, as she eyed the elevator. She wanted to leave, but her guilt forced her to stay. ¡°And she took Improved Perception ¨C that skill she gets from her Huntress¡¯ Scrunchy ¨C because she didn¡¯t want to lose it if she stopped using the item. Turns out that the combination of the item and talent compounded together, so she¡¯d at advanced level now.¡± Why am I so selfish? Rain almost died, and here I am wanting to flee her bedside. Are you going to be the self-centered, lonely person you¡¯ve always been, Milly? Are you¡­ Milly felt a gentle hand rest between her shoulder blades, and she jumped in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s just me, honey,¡± Calista comforted as she rubbed Milly¡¯s back, spotting the conflict in her girlfriend¡¯s eyes. ¡°Did you tell her about the hand-to-hand combat skill I made you take?¡± ¡°No¡­,¡± Milly said with a sniff. ¡°I forgot about that one. Are you done already?¡± Calista wiped Milly¡¯s tears away gingerly with her thumbs. ¡°Elmer and Alison have it well in hand. They know where to find me if they need me. I wanted to be with you. Come on, love. You need some food in you. Billy has cooked up a lunch of boar and mushrooms ¨C again.¡± Milly stared down at Rain, conflicted. ¡°Rain will be alright with Ying,¡± Calista insisted, lifting Milly to her feet, and nudging her towards the stairs. ¡°Rain wouldn¡¯t want you moping over her. She¡¯d want you out there, getting into mischief.¡± ¡°I feel guilty leaving her,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°I¡­ I know, honey. At the end, with my dad, I would stay at his side in the hospital for hours and hours, even when his mind wasn¡¯t there. It¡­ it wasn¡¯t a healthy thing to do, for me or for him. We¡¯ll come back and see her tonight before bed, okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± mumbled Milly. She already felt her tangle of emotions slowly being unwound by Calista¡¯s careful touch. ¡°Besides, after everything we¡¯ve been through, I think we¡¯ve earned some retail therapy,¡± Calista declared with enthusiasm. ¡°Food first, then the Emporia!¡± ¡°What¡¯s retail therapy?¡± Milly asked. Calista¡¯s smile was as broad as it could get. ¡°Oh, this is going to be fun.¡± Chapter 66 - Retail Therapy "Whoever said money can''t buy happiness simply didn''t know where to go shopping." Gertrude Stein, American Actress ¡°Do you like the maple or the walnut? I like the softer color of the maple, but the dark brown of the walnut is just so striking,¡± Calista asked Milly as she stared at the two dining tables Tutoria had materialized in furniture section of the Emporia. ¡°The maple begs a home-cooked family meal, but the walnut wants us to throw a party.¡± ¡°Cally, should we really be spending our gold like this?¡± asked Milly, drowning in the sea of Calista¡¯s capitalism. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be getting something practical, like¡­¡± Milly was at a loss. She¡¯d never had money ¨C not a single dollar ¨C that she could afford to waste. She had spent her whole life scrounging for furniture in dumpsters and living on cheap food like potatoes and peas. She had developed a deep-seeded frugalness in her poverty that was at odds with Calista¡¯s more laissez-faire approach to personal finance. ¡°¡­ like armor, or weapons. Or Waypoint Crystals?¡± Milly finished weakly. ¡°All the Waypoint Crystals are sold out today, and the armor and weapons are¡­ well... shit. At least compared to what we have now. No offense, Tutoria.¡± ¡°None taken,¡± replied the Emporia Tutoria chipperly as she sat atop the maple table and swung her legs playfully. ¡°My armor is for players under level ten anyways, so they stand a fighting chance. It¡¯s not meant for people stronger than that.¡± ¡°Besides, Milly, we have a new home ¨C our first home as a couple ¨C and it needs to be decorated. We don¡¯t want to come back to that empty, musky floor every day, right?¡± Calista beamed, as she ran her finger across the glossy top of the walnut table. ¡°I¡­ guess not?¡± Milly said uncertainly. She couldn¡¯t help but compare their new home with her old apartment. At least their new home didn¡¯t have cracked sinks. ¡°I want you to be comfortable, Cally. It¡¯s the beginning of spending our lives together. It¡¯s just that¡­ I don¡¯t even know where to start. I¡¯ve never really¡­ shopped before.¡± Calista laughed and wrapped her arms around Milly¡¯s waist. ¡°You start by picking maple or walnut.¡± ¡°Okay. Umm¡­ walnut. No, maple. Wait¡­¡± Milly said indecisively. ¡°Too late. You said walnut first. Retail shopping is all about impulsivity. Let go of the consequence and embrace the splurge. Tutoria, we¡¯ll take the walnut!¡± Calista declared excitedly. ¡°Excellent choice, Milly,¡± chuckled Tutoria as she clapped her hands together. Two Delivery Tutorias, dressed in their blue and black uniforms, appeared and carried the table out of the Emporia to deliver to Milly and Calista¡¯s new home. ¡°That table, with the delivery fee, will be a thousand gold.¡± ¡°A thousand gold!¡± Milly exclaimed in disbelief. ¡°Cally, that¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give you seven hundred, Tutoria,¡± Calista attempted to bargain. Tutoria laughed. ¡°Sorry Calista. The prices are set by the AI Director, not by me. If you want a discount at the Emporia or any other store, you¡¯ll need to take the Discount talent. It¡¯s in the commerce section of the talent web.¡± ¡°Well, damn. Fine, we¡¯ll pay your exorbitant price. Now, I want to look at dressers next.¡± ¡°Cally, we have inventories. Why would we ever need a dresser?¡± Milly reasoned. ¡°That¡¯s logic. Logic is also not allowed during retail therapy. Besides, what kind of bedroom doesn¡¯t have a dresser?¡± answered Calista, as Tutoria materialized three options. Milly couldn¡¯t help but smile at Calista¡¯s energy. Her girlfriend was having fun, and after everything they had been through ¨C after the horrors of yesterday ¨C Milly couldn¡¯t bear to take that away from her. Milly let her defenses down. ¡°Okay, Cally, you win. But, if you don¡¯t mind, maybe I¡¯ll try out this retail therapy with¡­ something smaller?¡± Milly suggested. ¡°Like¡­ um¡­ soap or something? You can be responsible for the decorating. I¡¯ll be responsible for not smelling gross.¡± Calista beamed. ¡°Of course, honey. You leave it to me! You do you.¡± Milly gave Calista a peck on the cheek, then headed over to the pharmacy section of the Emporia, a section that closely resembled its Earth counterpart. The shelves were lined with all manner of hygiene products, each one with half a dozen different options. ¡°What can I help you with, Milly Brown?¡± asked a second Tutoria Emporia that suddenly materialized next to her in the aisle. ¡°Fuck!¡± Milly shouted awkwardly, jarred by the sudden appearance. ¡°Tutoria, you surprised me.¡± The Tutoria shrugged non-apologetically. You know, after two weeks, I¡¯ve figured out one carnal rule to this place. At their core, all Tutorias are a bit of an asshole. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Well, I guess I need your help. I don¡¯t know what to buy. Maybe we can start with¡­ shampoo?¡± Shampoo was one of those few things Milly had afforded herself in her old life that felt like a luxury. She always bought a generic no-name brand, and she would only use it when the grease in her hair had built up too much to manage. Tutoria leaned in and sniffed Milly, then cringed. She rubbed a strand of Milly¡¯s hair between two fingers and looked disappointed. ¡°Listen, Milly,¡± Tutoria began, taking on a motherly tone. ¡°You¡¯ve got a girlfriend now, and you¡¯re gonna need more than shampoo if you want to keep that fiery redhead happy. Plus ¨C and trust me on this ¨C you¡¯re not going to want to go through this God Contest without a rigorous personal hygiene routine. There are monsters in the wild that will leave you smelling like a rotten corpse.¡± Tutoria projected a merchant screen in front of Milly. It was filled with a vast collection of hygiene products separated into two dozen distinct categories ¨C far more than were displayed on the shelves in front of them. ¡°Let¡¯s see. Here¡¯s a shampoo and conditioner that should work for your¡­ rather greasy hair. What¡¯s Calista¡¯s favorite scent?¡± Tutoria asked. ¡°Her¡­ favorite scent? I¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ I mean, we¡¯ve only been dating a week,¡± Milly stuttered. ¡°It¡¯s lilac!¡± shouted Calista, clearly eavesdropping. ¡°Lilac shampoo and conditioner. That¡¯s twenty gold,¡± Tutoria said as she materialized the items from her merchant screen and set them on the counter. ¡°Oh, we have lilac soap too. That¡¯s another ten gold.¡± ¡°Thirty gold? That just seems so much. I don¡¯t think¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯ll take it, Tutoria!¡± Calista said, trying to contain her giggles. ¡°I do love my lilac.¡± Milly couldn¡¯t help but grin at Calista¡¯s giggles, and she felt her inhibitions start to fade. She¡¯s enjoying this more than her own shopping! That little minx. ¡°Then¡­ maybe a hairbrush next?¡± Milly requested. ¡°Centaur hair or goblin hair?¡± Tutoria asked. ¡°I¡­ what? Goblin hair? Eww¡­ no,¡± Milly protested. ¡°How would that even work?¡± ¡°Centaur hair it is,¡± Tutoria concluded, pulling the brush from the merchant screen before Milly could protest. ¡°Okay, Milly, what¡¯s next?¡± Milly spent the hour buying the simple luxuries she had denied herself in her old life, and the pile on the counter began to grow quickly. Lotion, creams, and facial cleanser. Three fluffy bath towels ¨C each a different color ¨C and soft cotton bedsheets. Her final purchase was a three-wick candle, also lilac scented, that Milly pictured burning on a small end table next to their bed while they cuddled together. The thought made her smile. Our bed. This whole relationship still feels surreal. I¡¯ve been alone for so long that I¡¯d given up hope I would find anyone who cared about me, let alone someone who would love me. ¡°I¡­ I think that¡¯s it, Tutoria,¡± Milly finally said after her pile of purchases covered half the counter. ¡°I think I¡¯ve stretched the flexibility of my frugalness to the breaking point today.¡± ¡°Just one more thing, Milly,¡± Tutoria said with a smirk. She pulled a bright pink razor blade from the screen and stared down at Milly¡¯s legs. ¡°Calista, do you like hairy or shaved?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your fucking business, you little pervert,¡± Calista called out, not bothering to turn away from the four full length mirrors she was intently studying. ¡°We¡¯ll just go ahead and add this to the pile,¡± Tutoria said to Milly with a wink. ¡°On the house.¡± * * * By the end of their retail therapy, Calista had made considerable progress furnishing their new home. She¡¯d picked a deep, brown oak color for their bedroom, which now had a dresser, end tables, lamps, a full-length mirror, rocking chair, and a dozen wicker baskets, though Milly could not fathom what Calista wanted to put in them. Calista had also outfitted the north-eastern office as a second bedroom for Rain, with a lighter maple color for the furniture. The open area between the two rooms was now a large dining room, with the walnut table placed against the eastern window so they could bathe in the morning sun as they stared out at the vast blue ocean. The early stages of a living room had been started along the southern wall off the elevator, but Milly had held her girlfriend back after the purchase of a leather couch, marble coffee table, and more throw pillows than Milly believed could be reasonably placed in any single room, let alone on a single couch. By the end of their retail therapy, the couple had spent nearly ten thousand gold and dwindled their savings below a thousand. ¡°Well, what did you think?¡± Calista asked as they exited the Emporia and headed for the northern mountains to meet Lightpaw. ¡°It was¡­ fun,¡± Milly admitted, her fingers circled around Calista¡¯s wrist. ¡°It took my mind off Rain, and the fairies, and Stone and Brass, and everything else, if only for an hour.¡± ¡°When my dad was sick, I used to go to the mall every day after school so I could forget about what was happening to him, and what I was going through. I wanted to forget about my pain and the loneliness that I knew was just around the corner,¡± Calista said softly. ¡°My dad was all I had in the world. Mom abandoned us when I was three, so dad raised me by himself. We were inseparable.¡± ¡°He sounds like a great dad,¡± Milly said, not knowing what else to say. ¡°He was the best. I just¡­ wasn¡¯t a good daughter, when he really needed me to be. I was angry, and I took that anger out on people around me, including him, even as his illness stripped away who he was, piece by piece. We didn¡¯t¡­ depart on great terms.¡± ¡°He¡¯d be proud of who you¡¯ve become, Cally,¡± Milly assured her. ¡°You know what the worst part was? After he died, I couldn¡¯t feel happy without drowning in a deep sense of guilt. It was like I was punishing myself for moving on ¨C for living when he no longer could. My school counselor called it Survivors Guilt. I let that guilt consume my life, and soon the bitterness and anger became a bit part of who I was, and it turned me into the bully you knew at work.¡± ¡°Cally, you¡¯re not¡­¡± Calista spun around and placed her hands on Milly¡¯s shoulders, her piercing eyes filled with determination. ¡°Milly. This God Contest¡­ it¡¯s a cruel game built by cruel gods. In two weeks, we¡¯ve seen the horrors of war and re-lived the worst moments of our lives. Rain almost died, and tomorrow it could be me, or it could be you. We¡¯ve attended more funerals than I ever thought possible, and they will not be the last.¡± ¡°Cally, why are you telling me this?¡± worried Milly, and was surprised when Calista smiled. ¡°Because despite all that we have lived through in two weeks, I¡¯ve never been as happy in my life as the moments I am with you. But I don¡¯t want our happiness to become poisoned by our guilt. Whatever comes our way ¨C whatever terrible things this contest has in store for us ¨C I want us to treasure the moments we have together, without guilt and without remorse. Rain would want that too.¡± Milly embraced her girlfriend and held her tight. ¡°Even if that means we spend all our gold shopping?¡± Milly laughed weakly as she let the guilt she harbored fade. ¡°Especially if it means spending all our gold,¡± Calista laughed. ¡°I love you, Milly.¡± ¡°I love you too, Cally.¡± With that, they headed into the northern mountains towards fairies¡¯ new home, their steps just a little bit lighter. Chapter 67 - The Second Memory Orb "Yesterday is but today''s memory, and tomorrow is today''s dream." Khalid Gibran, Lebonese Poet ¡°It was a hard night,¡± Whitewing updated Milly and Calista, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. ¡°We lost four of our kin before the morning sun crested over the water. Your people sent healers to help last night, and we are grateful for that, or there would be others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Whitewing,¡± comforted Calista, giving the fairy healer a quick embrace. ¡°You did everything you could.¡± Whitewing clutched her newfound friend, but she had no tears left to shed. Her exhaustion was mirrored on every fairy Milly could see. Grief was etched across the faces of mothers, fathers, and children, though they all dealt with it in different ways. Some fairy kin wandered around in a zombie-like state or sat against a tree and stared blankly at nothing. Others had smothered their own grief so they could care for their loved ones and prepare meals for the survivors. There were others that threw themselves into shaping the land that would become their new home. The Freelancers and the Farmers, and ¨C to Milly¡¯s astonishment ¨C the CEOs had sent a contingent of players to help the fairies establish themselves on the land nestled at the intersection of the northern mountains and eastern ocean. Temporary lean-to shelters erected under enormous lodgepole pines had begun to pop up in the forest, and the beach was starting to fill with cooking fires and spits to feed hungry families. A medical tent was being built at the edge of the woods, and a new Elder¡¯s circle was being formed in a forest meadow just beyond the settlement¡¯s core. ¡°I don¡¯t like it Milly,¡± murmured Calista, as she watched a team of CEO-aligned players erect a lean-to for a family of fox fairies. ¡°We may have a truce with the CEOs, but I trust them about as far as I can throw them.¡± ¡°Your strength is forty-eight, Cally,¡± Milly reminded her. ¡°You can throw them pretty far.¡± ¡°At this point, we¡¯ll take all the help we can get,¡± Whitewing said diplomatically. ¡°And, as grateful as we are to the four of you, Lightpaw doesn¡¯t want us to take sides in your people¡¯s quarrel. You¡¯ll forgive us, I hope. We owe you our lives, but we must watch out for our families.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t want you involved in it either, Whitewing,¡± Calista promised with a cautious smile. ¡°Just promise me you¡¯ll be careful.¡± Milly gazed over the beach towards the ocean inlet, where Sapphire and her clan had made their home. Sapphire swam in the middle of the inlet and dove deep. She popped up a few moments later, a brown speckled flatfish skewered on her trident. She casually plucked it off and tossed it ashore into the growing pile of fish and muscles on the beach. Waving at the two women, Sapphire¡¯s scales sparkling in the afternoon sun, she plucked a bit of seaweed out of her turquoise hair and dove back for more. ¡°She¡¯s a tough one,¡± Whitewing said. ¡°But she grieves with the rest of us. She lost many of her warriors yesterday, but every one of them died a hero. Sapphire and her survivors returned to the valley this morning and carried their fallen kin to this new home. They were laid to rest far out to sea before the sun reached its zenith, as is their custom.¡± ¡°Are the elders in the valley now?¡± Calista asked. Their new settlement was full of activity, but the elders and strongest, most able-bodied fairies were absent. ¡°Yes. They will dig graves for our kin, one-by-one, and bury them in the gathering place of our ancestors. And when the injured are healed, we will grieve as one people, united for the first time since the beginning of memory.¡± Milly watched as Whitewing¡¯s healers moved about a clearing in the centre of the settlement that had been set aside for the wounded. They were exhausted, half-stumbling from patient to patient, but too stubborn to take a rest. ¡°Whitewing, put me to work,¡± Milly said as she headed towards the clearing. ¡°We¡¯ve got to wait for Lightpaw and Twotongue to return, and I don¡¯t want to stand around feeling useless.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t turn down help, Milly,¡± Whitewing accepted. ¡°I¡¯ll show you who¡­¡± Milly activated her Healer¡¯s Aura, and the faint pink aura stretched across the clearing. Whitewing felt her healing magic suddenly surge in strength. ¡°How¡­ how did you do that?¡± Whitewing asked, astonished. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡­ I learned it last night,¡± Milly replied, uncertain whether she should describe leveling up to Whitewing. She decided against it. ¡°Now, where do you want me to start?¡± * * * It was early evening when Lightpaw and Twotongue returned to the Inlet of New Beginnings, their eyes weary with suppressed grief. Milly had exhausted her magic reserves during the afternoon as she moved from fairy to fairy to provide what healing she could. Her advanced Healer¡¯s Touch magic was stronger and less costly, which allowed her to heal more for less, though she followed Ying¡¯s advice about healing too much, too fast. Calista had passed the time hunting with Nobori and Indigo in the mountains. By the time the elders returned, they were butchering three elk and a bear on the beach. Twotongue clutched a hefty sack in his webbed hand as the elders approached. ¡°How did it go?¡± Calista asked sympathetically, wiping off her bloody hands in the sand. ¡°As well as can be expected,¡± Lightpaw replied, his weariness evident. ¡°Our people grieve, but thankfully the wolves did not return, and our people were allowed to grieve in peace.¡± Lightpaw sniffed as he struggled to contain his own grief. ¡°Your people have given us a home. A place to live in peace. I fear we may never be able to repay you.¡± Guilt clutched at Milly¡¯s heart. If we hadn¡¯t gone to the Gathering, would the wolves have attacked? Or would this have happened the moment any player encountered the fairies, because that¡¯s what Oracle and Hephaestus designed to happen? The fairies are creatures of this world ¨C this God Contest ¨C just like the wolves. Were they simply built to be pawns in the Arena of Protection? Milly had tried to ignore that thought since they had saved the Lost Foals from Red Fang, but as the fairies settled in their new home, she found herself unable to quell the thought. Is this just part of the gods¡¯ twisted game? Twotongue placed a comforting hand on Lightpaw¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Chief Elder, get some rest and let yourself grieve with your family. You¡¯ll do our people no good in this state.¡± Lightpaw began to argue, but all that came out was an insistent yawn. ¡°Go,¡± reiterated Twotongue. ¡°I have unfinished business with our young saviors anyways.¡± Lightpaw smiled gratefully to his fellow elder and stumbled over to his clan¡¯s encampment, where a bed of moss beneath a lean-to awaited him. Milly saw Nobori¡¯s sister Mikoko run up to Lightpaw and clutch onto one of his legs. The elder knelt at her side and embraced the child, as he let his grief emerge. ¡°What unfinished business, Twotongue?¡± Calista asked, confused. In response, Twotongue lifted a large, milky-white orb out of the sack. Colorful lights danced below its surface as if it were a disco ball. ¡°When we first met ¨C when you saved my clan from Red Fang¡¯s cruelty ¨C I promised to give you this heirloom if you delivered us safely to the Gathering. You fulfilled your part of that bargain and so much more. My family¡¯s treasure is yours,¡± Twotongue replied as he held the orb towards Calista. ¡°I only wish I had more to offer you.¡± ¡°Is that¡­ a memory orb?¡± Milly whispered, as Calista carefully grasped the orb in her hands. It was smaller than the one Milly and Rain had found on the beach, but this one was undamaged.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is,¡± admitted Twotongue with a touch of embarrassment. ¡°My grandfather¡¯s grandfather found it in the southern jungles, at the bottom of a lake. He was drawn to it, and it called to him, yet he died without knowing its purpose. It¡¯s been passed down through our family generation by generation, ever since, as we searched for the one it belonged to.¡± ¡°And you think that¡¯s us?¡± Calista asked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because it didn¡¯t start sparkling like a rainbow until I met you.¡± * * * Milly and Calista headed north, deeper into the mountains and away from the prying eyes of both fairies and players, until they came upon a flowery meadow below a sheer, snowcapped mountain. Above, a twin waterfall cascaded off the mountain and bathed the meadow in a cool, pleasant mist. ¡°Are you ready, Cally?¡± Milly asked as she placed the orb in the middle of the meadow. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Calista said as she leaned on her spear and activated her shield. ¡°How do you¡­ turn it on?¡± ¡°I have no idea. I¡­ woah!¡± Milly startled, as the lights within the orb began to spiral and filled the meadow with rainbow lights. The orb began to float off the ground and quickly rose until it hovered ten feet above them and lit up the meadow like a disco ball. ¡°Whatever you did, that seemed to work, Milly¡± Calista said excitedly, as holographic images began to appear around them, obscuring the meadow bit-by-bit until all they could see was the memory projected by the orb. It was dark, illuminated by projected candlelight, and familiar to Milly. ¡°This¡­ this is Oracle and Hephaestus¡¯ workshop,¡± Milly said, as she recognized the medieval-style workshop with its oak workbench and haphazardly stacked bookshelves. Hephaestus ¨C the bearded man in the blacksmith¡¯s apron ¨C sat at the workbench as the memory orb began its recording. Behind him, the Nexus ¨C the kaleidoscope essence from which all intelligent life spawned ¨C whirled like an engine at the heart of a great machine. ¡°Oracle and Hephaestus ¨C the ones you said designed the God Contest?¡± Calista asked. She hadn¡¯t seen the first memory orb on the beach. ¡°Yes, but they didn¡¯t have time to design a full contest this time. It would have taken them hundreds of years to build it, and they didn¡¯t have enough time. So they decided to build the foundations, and design an AI Director to¡­ well, fill in the details.¡± ¡°What did¡­¡± Calista started to ask, until the projection of Hephaestus coughed and caused her to jump in surprise. ¡°Hephaestus¡¯ journal, nineth entry,¡± sighed the muscular god. He sounded irritated. ¡°As always, this journal is a record of our attempts to design the thirteenth God Contest for species homosapien. Oracle is still making me do these damn journals with her memory orbs, despite my continual objections that it is a waste of time. She just tell me that they are necessary. It¡¯s aggravating, to say the least.¡± ¡°She has you on a tight leash, smithing god,¡± came a dark, malevolent voice from beyond the projection. A chill went down Milly¡¯s spine. ¡°She may be your mate, but she doesn¡¯t control you, my friend. Though I fear she has warped your mind to her own whims.¡± Hephaestus rolled his eyes and ignored the voice, as though he¡¯d heard the complaint a thousand times before. ¡°Oracle continues her efforts to create this ¡®AI Director¡¯, though she has found little success,¡± he narrated as he continued the recording. ¡°I must remind myself to be patient. It has only been a year since the failure of the twelfth God Contest, and we venture into unfamiliar territory. Building an artificial intelligence treads close to the power ¨C the responsibility ¨C of the Nexus itself. It is a power only it has ever possessed, and with every day that passes, I worry we follow the path of Icarus towards the sun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous thing to have the creation of all intelligent life be the purview of a single, poorly understood entity,¡± mused the voice. ¡°Even the High Lord does not know from where the Nexus originated. All we know is it was here before us. Yet we use its immense power as if it were a trinket that we created.¡± ¡°It is beyond our comprehension, and should stay that way,¡± replied Hephaestus irritably. ¡°We don¡¯t even know if the Nexus itself is alive. It could be machine, or an anomaly that appeared through impossible cosmic chance. Or perhaps it is the last remnant of gods greater than us, whose time has long since passed.¡± ¡°Oh, the Nexus is alive, my friend,¡± said the voice hungrily. ¡°I can feel it in my bones. It has a soul, though we may not recognize it as such. It lives eternal, yet even the eternal must die eventually. Even now, as the madness spreads amongst us gods, I can feel it begin to take hold in the Nexus ¨C in our creator. In the end, if we do not succeed, the madness shall corrupt it as well.¡± ¡°Knock off your creepy shit, Cizen. That¡¯s not why I asked you to come here today,¡± Hephaestus bellowed. ¡°You offered to help me design the foundations of the thirteenth contest, though High Lord knows how you managed to find out what Oracle and I were doing. We haven¡¯t informed anyone, as this is not a sanctioned design. But, loathed as I am to admit it, we do need your help. If you will accept the risks that come with the venture.¡± ¡°I would prefer the seer not know of my¡­ assistance, Hephaestus,¡± Cizen requested. ¡°I would prefer no one know.¡± The god Cizen stepped into view, and Milly retched. The creature had the appearance of death and decay, his body covered in open sores and rotted flesh. His face was practically skeletal, skin stretched across bone as if near starvation. Rats and crows followed in his wake and consumed the flesh that fell from the god¡¯s body, only to be reabsorbed into its master¡¯s flesh in a never-ending cycle of decay and consumption. The projection had no scent, but Milly held her breath, as if the stench of death and decay would reach her even through the long-ago memory. Hephaestus regarded Cizen with an exasperated patience saved only for dearest ¨C and most troublesome ¨C friends. ¡°Oracle does tend to find these things out, Cizen. It is her lot in life, to know that which others do not,¡± Hephaestus sighed, as his gaze returned to the small cube in his meaty palms. ¡°But I shall not tell her of your involvement. Besides, I have not seen my wife in weeks. She locks herself in her workshop and does not take visitors ¨C not even her own husband.¡± ¡°She¡¯s always been a selfish woman,¡± Cizen sneered, earning another sigh from Hephaestus. The smithing god looked forlorn. ¡°The three of us¡­ we were so close, Cizen, back in the before. We fought side-by-side, to the bitter end, and we earned our reward, if you could call it that,¡± Hephaestus defended. ¡°What happened in that final battle ¨C it wasn¡¯t Oracle¡¯s fault. And it wasn¡¯t yours, my dear friend. It was just the four of us left, and Syune¡­ Syune just didn¡¯t make it.¡± Deep shadows extended from Cizen and darkened the workshop, the light from the Nexus eclipsed. ¡°Don¡¯t you say her name, Hephaestus. She died many cycles ago, and I have moved on. The god of the dead doesn¡¯t hold to such attachments.¡± ¡°Bullshit. She was your wife, Cizen,¡± Hephaestus countered. ¡°Such pain leaves unhealed scars on our souls. The kind that never fade.¡± Cizen fell into a dark silence, his eyes focused intently on the Nexus. Hephaestus dropped the subject. It was not the first time they¡¯d had this argument. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t call you here to argue about the distant past, jackass.¡± ¡°Bullshit? Jackass? You¡¯ve embraced these human curses a bit too readily, old friend,¡± sighed Cizen, but the faint chuckle that hissed from between his skeletal teeth broke through the tension between them. ¡°I have found them to be one of the more enjoyable species we¡¯d been tasked to watch over,¡± said Hephaestus wistfully. ¡°But perhaps this new species will be more in line with your eclectic tastes.¡± ¡°New species?¡± Cizen asked curiously. ¡°Already? So soon after the failure of the twelfth?¡± ¡°The Nexus knows we have little time before the madness takes us all. Like us, it does its part to accelerate the launch of the thirteenth and delivered the new species ahead of schedule.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll become yet another failed species if these pathetic humans cannot survive the thirteenth,¡± Cizen observed as he leaned over Hephaestus¡¯ shoulder. A glob a bloody flesh fell on Hephaestus¡¯ workbench, which Hephaestus casually swept to the floor for Cizen¡¯s rats. ¡°If humans fail the thirteenth and madness consumes us, my friend, the extermination of this new species will be the least of the universe¡¯s problems.¡± ¡°At least tell me this species is more robust than the dryads the Nexus created for the twelfth contest. That species ¨C and the contest ¨C was doomed the instant the humans began playing around with fire magic.¡± ¡°Only time will tell,¡± Hephaestus answered, as he stared into the cube at a new lifeform that only his eyes could see. ¡°Well?¡± Cizen asked impatiently. ¡°Spit it out, Heph. This new species. What are they?¡± ¡°¡­ Fairies. The Nexus has called them Fairies.¡± * * * The projection faded away, and Milly and Calista were left standing in the middle of the meadow, alone once more. ¡°Milly¡­¡± Calista uttered softly as the last rainbow light fell silent within the sphere. ¡°The fairies¡­ Lightpaw and Twotongue and the others¡­ they¡­¡± Calista couldn¡¯t finish. Her stomach rolled as the realization struck her like a train. All she could picture were the nine hundred fairies that now lay buried in row upon row of graves. Real graves. Real lives. ¡°They aren¡¯t constructs of the Oracle and Hephestus, Cally,¡± Milly finished. ¡°They¡¯re all alive. The Nexus created their species, as it created ours, and¡­ and¡­¡± ¡°And imprisoned them in this world with us,¡± Calista snapped as anger eclipsed her shock. ¡°Only unlike us, Lightpaw and his people don¡¯t know they are prisoners in a made-up world. What kind of sadistic¡­ monster¡­ would do that? The Fairies are like the Nexus¡¯ children, and it threw them to the literal wolves.¡± Calista drove her fist into a lodgepole pine. Her strike broke clean through its trunk, and she and Milly had to scramble out of the way as the sixty-foot-tall tree crashed to the forest floor and sent fractured branches into the air. Startled squirrels scrambled from its path and chittered angrily at Calista as the echoes of the crashed bounced off the mountains. ¡°Umm¡­ oops,¡± Calista said as she stared down at her uninjured fist. ¡°I guess that twenty strength boost really made a difference.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re going to need it,¡± Milly replied. ¡°Cally, the Nexus put the Fairies here for a reason. They have to survive this Contest. If they all die¡­ I don¡¯t know what will happen, but I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll survive long if they perish.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll protect them, Milly,¡± Calista promised. ¡°We did it yesterday, and we¡¯ll do it tomorrow, and every day after until all of us ¨C players and fairies ¨C are free of this world.¡± Milly went to grab the orb from the meadow floor, its form now inert, but when her fingers touched its milky surface, it dissolved into a fine white powder. ¡°So much for showing the memory to Rain,¡± Calista said regretfully. Milly brushed away the power, and her fingers wrapped around a silver key that lay beneath. ¡°A key? For what?¡± Calista asked, staring at its ornately carved beauty. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Milly answered as she placed the key in her inventory. ¡°But I¡¯m sure we will find out.¡± Calista and Milly held hands as they left the meadow behind and their minds spun with the implications of the vision. That night, as Milly lay in bed and listened to her girlfriend¡¯s snores, her thoughts drifted back to the decayed god in the memory. He was terrifying, yet oddly familiar, though Milly could not understand why. When she finally drifted off to sleep, her arms wrapped tightly around Calista, Cizen¡¯s skeletal visage haunted her dreams. Chapter 68 - The Draw of Routine "The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." Mike Murdock, American Clergyman It had been just over two weeks since the God Contest tore Milly and her coworkers from their lives and deposited them in the deadly game of survival. Since then, Milly¡¯s life had been like riding a rollercoaster in a hurricane, hanging on for dear life while she waited for the track to break beneath her. Every day, death and fear mixed with excitement and exploration, yet with every terror that came her way Milly felt herself grow stronger and mature. She adapted to the terror that surrounded her, and although she was still on edge, that edge started to feel less like an enemy and more like a safety blanket, its absence more noticeable than its presence. Milly didn¡¯t know if that comfort was a source of strength or a sign that she was on the verge of collapse. She tried not to think about it. It was on this edge ¨C balanced on the blade of a knife ¨C that Milly settled into a new routine. It was a routine very different from her life only two weeks ago, though that span of time felt like an eternity. Before the God Contest, her routine had been grounded in hopeless isolation. An endless cycle of sleep, eat, and work, and each day took her further away from the woman she wanted to be. A woman with purpose in life. A woman who was loved. She finally found that purpose ¨C that love ¨C in the new routine she and Calista established in the week after their return to the Castle of Glass. It was a routine as far away from her old life as one could get, and, despite the horrors around them, Milly had followed Calista¡¯s advice and given herself permission to enjoy it. Each morning, when the first light of dawn gently woke her from her slumber, Milly spent the first minutes of the day watching Calista, who lay spread eagle on their bed with the blankets kicked to the floor after having taken over Milly¡¯s side during the night. Milly would curl along the sliver of bed left to her and listen to Calista mumble in her sleep as she began to wake up. Milly enjoyed the look of early morning guilt that would wash over Calista¡¯s face as Calista realized she had pushed Milly to the edge of their bed, a hair away from tumbling onto the stained carpet below. ¡°I did it again?¡± Calista had asked, embarrassed, after their second night. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Milly assured her girlfriend with a giggle. ¡°I slept on a tiny, stained mattress in my apartment. I¡¯m used to not having that much room.¡± Calista promised to do better the next night, though that night, and the one after that, found Milly on the edge of the bed yet again. It had amused Milly, until their fifth night, when Calista, in the midst of a nightmare, kicked Milly off the bed and sent her flying across their bedroom, Calista¡¯s enhanced strength sending Milly crashing into their new dresser. That morning, Milly and Calista had spent most of their remaining gold to upgrade to a King-sized bed. The Emporia Tutoria had a tough time trying to hold in her laughter as she completed the sale. To add to their embarrassment, they¡¯d had to ask Ned, the Freelancer who had specialized in repair magic, to come by and fix their dresser. This led to another round of barely contained laugher, and soon the nightly escapades of The Huntress and The Witch of the Castle of Glass became a regular topic of gossip around the towers. Milly¡¯s morning routine ¨C once just a quick brush and occasional shower ¨C became far more robust. Suddenly, Milly had a reason to care about how she looked. She spent that first morning fumbling her way through the array of soaps, shampoos, lotions and conditioners that she¡¯d purchased from Tutoria. She¡¯d cut herself a dozen times while she shaved her legs, though she was able to quickly heal the cuts. Thank goodness The Scarred Witch doesn''t effect these small injuries. I''d be nothing but cuts and scrapes if it did. Her Gown of Moon and Stars had to be washed by hand in the sink to remove the layer of filth that had built up, though Milly learned to use her advanced water magic to siphon away the dirt and quickly dry the gown. I wish I had learned this earlier. My gown was getting gross. She attempted to pluck her eyebrows to mimic Calista¡¯s perfect layers, but all she managed to do was make her eyebrows irregular and thin. Milly had snapped the tweezers in half with frustration, momentarily forgetting about her elevated strength. I never had a mother to teach me this. It¡¯s impossible to figure out. Cally¡¯s going to hate how I look. I bet she learned from¡­ Milly caught herself before she finished that thought. No, Milly, Cally didn¡¯t have a mother either. You¡¯re just making excuses. Just suck up your pride and ask Cally how to do it. It was two hours before Milly emerged from the washroom on that first day. Calista had been waiting, and Milly stood bashfully before her, her hands trying to self-consciously cover her body from the woman she loved. Calista stared at her as if a stranger had entered their home. Milly¡¯s long, black hair ¨C once frayed, greasy, and wild ¨C now sparkled in the morning light, its tangles tamed and pulled back in a simple ponytail. Her face had a healthy glow from her cleanser and lotion, and the grime of the wilds was washed away, letting her pale and silky-smooth legs shine. Her Gown of Moon and Stars shaped perfectly to her form, accentuating her hips and breasts, as if the gown itself wanted Milly to look stunning. ¡°I¡­ Milly¡­¡± Calista¡¯s words struggled to emerge, which caused Milly to blush and shuffle her feet uncomfortably. For the first time in Milly¡¯s life, she had left the woman she loved speechless. For the first time in her life, Milly felt beautiful. She knew she was still heavy, and that the scars on her wrists were exposed for all to see, but those imperfections no longer seemed to matter as she stared into Calista¡¯s adoring eyes.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°What¡­ what do you think?¡± Milly asked, as she mustered up enough confidence to strike a playful pose, lifting her gown in a curtsey. Calista tried to stammer a reply. She almost made it, until the scent of Milly¡¯s lilac conditioner reached her nose. Milly learned an important thing that morning. When Calista said her favorite scent was lilac, she meant it. Calista abandoned her attempts at speech and pounced on Milly, her kisses quickly turning into something more. It was well into the afternoon before they left the apartment that day. The first thing Milly did, despite Calista¡¯s protests, was stop by the Emporia to purchase unscented soap and shampoo. ¡°We¡¯ll never get anything done if I keep using the lilac,¡± Milly laughed over Calista¡¯s pout. ¡°I¡¯ll save the lilac for special occasions, Cally.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to keep me from pouncing on you, beautiful,¡± Calista promised. * * * Calista ¨C the reluctant leader ¨C spent her mornings with Elmer and Alison making plans for the safety and sustenance of the Freelancers, Farmers and Fairies. They developed contingencies for monster attacks and how to defend against an attack from within. They dedicated a floor in Freelancers Tower and The Silo ¨C the tower Alison¡¯s bureaucrats had claimed ¨C for food storage, and it had already started to fill with dried meats and foraged nuts. Elsa, a Farmer specializing in water magic, was experimenting with a way to turn the floor into a freezer. Calista found Elsa¡¯s choice of specialty hilarious, though she¡¯d had to explain it to Milly, who hadn¡¯t seen many movies. Calista, Elmer, and Alison met daily with Brass and Stone ¨C Shufflebottom showed no interest in actual governing ¨C to design the Castle of Glass¡¯ outer defenses, decide on their next major projects, plan funerals for fallen players, and, inevitably, try to keep their tentative peace alive. Their sessions were fraught with tension, and Judy Brass in particular began to take a hardline stance against any suggestion raised by the Freelancers. Every day, Brass ranted against the proximity of the Fairies, describing them as a risk and a menace. Calista did not reveal what she and Milly had learned in the memory orb. It would not have changed Brass¡¯ mind regardless. Strangely, it was Jacob Stone who had a more rational position on the Fairies¡¯ presence, though Calista soon found out why after Stone pulled her aside private conversation. ¡°I must thank you, Ms. Gale, for the gift of those fairies,¡± Stone said, confident in his authority. ¡°They will be very useful.¡± ¡°Stone, if either you or Brass hurt a single one of them, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Calista threatened harshly. Stone threw his arms up with a smirk. ¡°Why, Ms. Gale, would I do that? With the deal we struck, my employees can now spend their time in the wilds, growing stronger, while the fairies keep us fed. Those monsters are in their proper place, and as long as such creatures stay in their proper place, I shall leave them alone.¡± Stone leaned in, his voice a threatening whisper. ¡°Keep that in mind, Ms. Gale. It¡¯s best you and your witch remember your proper place as well. If not¡­ well, you can¡¯t always be here to protect them.¡± Despite Stone¡¯s threat and Brass¡¯ overt aggression, they kept the tensions between the leaders behind closed doors. The peace that had settled over the Castle of Glass held that first week, and their coworkers breathed a sigh of relief as they began to bridge the gap between the factions. Joint construction, farming, and hunting teams formed, and soon the land around the Castle of Glass began to be tamed, civilization expanding beyond its glass walls. Billy¡¯s restaurant ¨C Billy¡¯s Beach Barbeque ¨C had finished construction and was packed with players at all hours of the day. Billy had even started to populate a menu, though, for now, it consisted mostly of roast boar and elk, fried mushrooms, mussels, and a couple species of fish caught off the ocean shore or in the prairie rivers. An expanded restaurant had been designed and included, despite protests from his fellow CEOs, a performance stage for Shufflebottom and his hastily assembled band ¡®The Radicals¡¯. Billy, surprisingly, had supported the idea. ¡°The man is an absolute wackjob, Calista,¡± he admitted as he signed off on the design. ¡°But you can¡¯t deny that he¡¯s got some mad skills on the guitar. Once he found a couple other musicians amongst our coworkers, he bought them instruments at the Emporia and started his band. A little music around here will help lighten everyone¡¯s spirits. Besides, wouldn¡¯t you rather have him occupied with that than scheming with Brass and Stone?¡± Calista could not dispute Billy¡¯s logic, though Shufflebottom still accompanied Stone and Brass into the wilds each day to explore. The look in the man¡¯s eye made Calista shiver, and she shuttered to think what thoughts lay deep in the man¡¯s mind. In the prairie outside the towers, the Farmers had doubled the size of the garden, and seedlings grew rapidly under the tender care of the bureaucrats¡¯ nature magic. They had painstakingly collected seeds from the remains of their coworkers¡¯ lunches taken to work on that first day, and now tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers were beginning to grow in the fertile ground. Seeds and wilderness transplants were also added to the garden, and now asparagus, raspberries, fiddleheads, and chickweed had started to take hold, with more varieties arriving every day. In the north, an apple orchard already had a row of seedlings that reached Milly¡¯s ankle. The orange grove in the south had seedlings twice as high, as Farmers who had taken orchardist skills tenderly administered to the seedlings every need. A particularly enthusiastic team of players ¨C with representation from all factions ¨C had found a small handful of grape seeds in a garbage can on the eleventh floor of Tower One and now spent hours coaxing the tiny vines to grow. They had dreams of a winery, and the faction leadership had decided to let them continue, if only to provide a distraction for the players. No one reasonably believed they needed to build a winery, but there was a growing consensus amongst the players that they would not be escaping this game any time soon, so long-term projects to occupy players were encouraged. The outer wall was their top priority, and by the end of the third week of the contest, it was complete. Their home was now surrounded by a wall of thick pine eight-feet-high ¨C their first line of defense. Three gates ¨C Jungle, Prairie, and Mountain ¨C were the sole entry points from the terrains, and a pair of players stood guard at each one. Others patrolled across the wall¡¯s ledge with bows in hand and took down any creature that traversed too close. Along the beach, a team of players had begun construction of a rudimentary shipyard. Three dockets had been cobbled together from logs and vines and stretched into the bay waters, where the first of the fishing rafts were being deployed. Samson, the shipbuilder who had promised a raft to the girls, shouted orders to his team while he worked on the Castle of Glass¡¯s first canoe. Each day, the players of the Castle of Glass grew more comfortable with their new home. They were no longer starved for food, and they had grown strong enough to fight off the goblins and ogres that pocketed the area around the towers. Their food stores had started to accumulate, especially after the first shipment of food arrived from the Fairies. A sense of safety finally settle upon them, and laughter became more common than the tears and thick silence that had filled their first few weeks. Six hundred and forty-five players remaining as the sun set on the third week of the God Contest. One hundred and sixty-two of their coworkers had lost their lives since that first day ¨C an average of eight every day, though the death rate had declined in recent days as players grew more powerful. They still held a nightly funeral for the deceased, but everyone had started to grow numb from the daily mourning. A rumor had started that those that died simply returned home, though all but the most desperate amongst them dismissed that as nothing more than a child¡¯s wish. As the sun reached its peak each day, Calista would leave the company of the other leaders, emotionally exhausted, grab lunch at Billy¡¯s restaurant, and seek out Milly at the Isle of New Beginnings. The draw of their new routine was strong, and despite her mornings filled with plans, schemes, and drama, Calista felt herself enjoying each day more than the last. They had developed a comfortable routine, and, for the moment, she allowed herself to enjoy it. Knowing that someday, very soon, that routine would come to an end. Chapter 69 - The Curiosity of a Child "Curiosity will conquor fear even more than bravery will." James Stephens, Irish Poet While Calista spent her mornings at the Castle of Glass, Milly helped the fairies settle into their new home. Much of her time was spent healing the injured, though even the healed would carry the trauma and mental scars with them for the rest of their lives. As Milly worked, Passiflora would often come by and pepper her with ceaselessly curious questions. Milly indulged the fairy child. Passiflora had no family left in this world, save for her promised Tentongue, though he was still too young to truly know what that entailed. Initially, Milly had thought she would grow irritated with Passiflora¡¯s constant questioning, but she was surprised to find she enjoyed the young fairy¡¯s company and the chance to help the child develop. Milly found within herself a patience she didn¡¯t know she had. ¡°You¡¯ll be an amazing mother someday, honey,¡± Calista mumbled one night, on the verge of sleep, as Milly told her about Passiflora¡¯s questions that day. Milly, after recovering from her shock, had started to respond, but Calista¡¯s jet engine snores had started before she could get the first word past her lips. A mother? Me? Her thoughts drifted from Passiflora to Luna, the artificial child, dressed in Milly¡¯s old hoodie that draped down past her knees and seated on Milly¡¯s lap as she poured her heart out. Milly remembered how she had cradled Luna in her arms as the girl cried and answered the same endless questions that Passiflora now asked her. I should find a backdoor and visit Luna again. It¡¯s been a week, and she¡¯s probably lonely. On the three-week anniversary of their entry into the God Contest ¨C one week after their return to the Castle of Glass ¨C Passiflora was once again at Milly¡¯s side, kneeling next to her patient and asking her curious questions. ¡°What¡¯s that pink thing around you?¡± Passiflora asked. ¡°It¡¯s a healing aura. It makes everyone¡¯s healing just a little bit stronger.¡± ¡°Can I learn it?¡± Milly didn¡¯t know the answer to that. Passiflora had shown more interest in her healing talents over the past few days, and Milly had anticipated she would eventually ask this question. Can fairies level up? No, if they could, they wouldn¡¯t be so weak. But if they were imprisoned in this God Contest like we are, then why are we players the only ones with access to the level up system? ¡°I don¡¯t know, Passiflora,¡± Milly answered honestly. ¡°My people¡­ we just, kind of, automatically learn new talents when we have enough experience under our belts. Perhaps you can learn the same talents in another way ¨C in the more traditional way. Whitewing can heal, so you might be able to learn if you practice. Here, try to copy what I do.¡± Milly held her palms over the bruise on her raccoon-fairy patient¡¯s stomach and willed her magic to form slowly enough for Passiflora to watch each step in the process. Passiflora mimicked Milly¡¯s motions. Nothing happened at her first attempt. Or her second. But late into the afternoon, as Milly pressed her hand against the torn shoulder of Chief Tidebreaker despite his squawking protests, Passiflora¡¯s magic broke through. ¡°Tidebreaker, calm down. Fairy Killer did some serious damage to your wing, and you¡¯re going to need another four healing sessions before it is back to full strength. So stop your squirming, birdbrain,¡± Milly said irritably. ¡°This is your fault, witch,¡± Tidebreaker spat, copying the insult from the CEO-aligned players that frequented their settlement. ¡°It is your responsibility to fix it. Do not expect me to be grateful after when you did to my people.¡± Milly did not engage the elder. She¡¯d made that mistake the first time and knew the ensuing argument would go nowhere. It was half-way through their healing session that Milly heard an excited gasp from Passiflora. Milly looked over and saw a tiny blue spark fluttering in Passiflora¡¯s palm. ¡°Milly! Milly! Look!¡± Passiflora said excitedly, holding the spark up for Milly to see. It disappeared as a slight breeze blew past, as if it were a candle in the wind. ¡°Aww¡­ it went away.¡± ¡°But you created it,¡± encouraged Milly. ¡°And I bet you¡¯ll be able to keep it lit even longer tomorrow. I¡¯m proud of you, Passiflora. You¡¯re a clever fairy.¡± Passiflora beamed with pride and glanced up at Elder Tidebreaker for his approval. ¡°You¡¯ve got talent, my dear,¡± Tidebreaker praised without hesitation, adopting a grandfatherly voice. ¡°You¡¯ll be better than this witch before long. Though that won¡¯t be much of a feat. She¡¯s quite bad at it.¡± Milly pressed her healing palm hard into Tidebreaker¡¯s shoulder, and he squawked with displeasure. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go show Whitewing what you learned, Passi?¡± Milly prompted the fairy girl. ¡°She¡¯ll be impressed. Maybe she can give you guidance on where to focus next.¡± Milly spotted Calista on the beach, newly arrived and huddled with the Chief Elder to brief him on the morning¡¯s activities. She and Calista always met at the Inlet of New Beginnings after lunch ¨CCalista exhausted from the morning¡¯s drama with the CEOs. They spent the afternoon in the company of the fairies to help them settle into their new home. They would hunt elk in the mountains, or fish off the shore. Milly would build rocky homes to replace the rickety lean-tos. Calista would meet with the elders on defensive tactics, and Milly would clear a path so they could begin to build their own wall. Calista would recount that day¡¯s frustrations with Stone and Brass and, increasingly, Alison, who tried to occupy a neutral position between the Freelancers and CEOs to preserve the peace. When evening fell, Calista and Milly would sit at the edge of the beach, lean into one another, and eat their supper while they watched Sapphire and her clan swim in the inlet. They would stay there until the sun set behind the pines, allowing themselves to simply enjoy the world around them.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Milly knew their routine would not last. The Event Timer still ticked away in the lobby, an ever-present reminder that this peace was but a fleeting thing. ¡°Will I see you tomorrow, Milly?¡± asked Passiflora before they parted for the day. Milly gave Passiflora a noncommittal shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Passi. I¡¯ll have to talk with Cally. Tidebreaker here was the last of your people who need healing¡­¡± ¡°You left me to last, witch,¡± accused the elder. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t let me heal you until yesterday, you stubborn old gull,¡± Milly countered. ¡°And your shoulder got infected because of it. Don¡¯t go and blame me for your own stupidity.¡± The elder grunted his displeasure at the insolent outsider, which made Passiflora giggled. ¡°Your home is developing into its own little town, Passi. You may not need me anymore,¡± Milly continued. ¡°We¡¯ll always need you, Milly,¡± protested Passiflora, her cheeks puffed out in mock anger. The girl hesitated, as if she wanted to say something more. ¡°What is it, Passi?¡± Milly encouraged. She had learned to see when a question was on the tip of Passiflora¡¯s tongue. ¡°Nobori¡­ Nobori says you¡¯re a goddess. He¡¯s building a shrine to you and Cally in the woods. Is she¡­ are you¡­?¡± ¡°No, Passi, I¡¯m not a goddess,¡± Milly sighed. ¡°I¡¯m just a woman, like you, trying to survive in this strange world.¡± We¡¯re both prisoners here, Passi. You just don¡¯t know it yet. They hadn¡¯t told anyone what they had seen in the memory orb. The implications for both the players and the fairies had been hard to wrap their minds around. I need to have a serious talk with Nobori though. This goddess nonsense has going too far. If Stone and Brass find out they are building a literal shrine to us, they¡¯re not going to handle it well. ¡°Oh¡­,¡± Passiflora said, disappointed. ¡°Well, you might not be a goddess, but you are my hero.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no hero either, Passi,¡± Milly mumbled self-consciously. ¡°I¡¯m just Milly. A few weeks ago, I didn¡¯t even want to be who I was.¡± ¡°Then what did you want to be?¡± Passiflora asked curiously. Nothing. I wanted to be nothing at all. ¡°It¡¯s not important,¡± Milly replied. This time, it was Milly that hesitated. She needed to ask Passiflora a question, but she had held off to spare the girl grief, and because Milly didn¡¯t know if she truly wanted to know the answer. I need to know. Only has she grown to trust me enough? ¡°Passi¡­ what happened between you and Xavier?¡± Milly asked cautiously. Passiflora went white as a ghost and her knees began to shake. There was fear in her eyes, though behind that fear was a glint of something more. Something angry. Is that¡­ hate? ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve got to go, Milly,¡± Passiflora mumbled as she backstepped and ran towards Whitewing. ¡°Umm¡­ see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yah, see you, Passi,¡± Milly said, as Calista arrived at her side. ¡°She hasn¡¯t opened up yet?¡± Calista asked curiously as she watched the fairy girl speed away. ¡°No, not yet,¡± replied Milly as she held Calista¡¯s hand and led her to their usual spot at the edge of the beach. ¡°She¡¯s terrified of him.¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°Keep trying, I guess. At least until Xavier wakes up, and I can extract the story from his lying lips,¡± Milly answered harshly. Calista had stopped at Billy¡¯s BBQ for lunch and handed Milly her share. ¡°You''re hangry again, my love. Here, eat.¡± Milly¡¯s mouth watered as she bit into the roasted mushroom. ¡°Oh my god. How does he cook like that? It¡¯s so good,¡± Milly said with her mouth full. ¡°He¡¯s got that magic spatula,¡± answered Calista. ¡°He¡¯s basically cheating, though he¡¯ll claim it¡¯s because of his phenomenal culinary skills. Ying said she doesn¡¯t care which it is. She¡¯ll stick with him as long as he keeps cooking like that. Lucky guy better not lose that spatula. Oh, and speaking of delicious food¡­¡± Calista pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth from her inventory, her face twisted with mischief. ¡°You¡¯ll want to finish your mushroom first though,¡± Calista advised. ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly dessert.¡± ¡°Oh, Cally, please tell me that¡¯s not¡­¡± Milly said with a groan. ¡°I thought we were going to wait until Rain woke up. Or¡­ you know¡­ we could never eat it.¡± ¡°Rain will have her share when she wakes up. But right now, we need every advantage we can get. It was another tough morning. Brass was in her usual form, shouting at the top of her lungs about wanting to be the arbiter of all disputes at the tower. She and Stone want to establish her as some kind of judge, with a trial process and everything. Can you fucking believe that?¡± ¡°Yah, I¡¯m sure Brass will be nothing but fair,¡± Milly scoffed. ¡°Especially to you and me.¡± ¡°Obviously, Elmer didn¡¯t agree, but Alison was unusually silent. Stone and Brass are up to something, Milly. I can feel it. We need to be ready.¡± Milly knew where this conversation was going. They had been avoiding the discussion for days, lost in the trappings of their simple, peaceful routine. They had not ventured back into the wilds since they had returned to the Castle of Glass, save to hunt, so their levels had not budged since the arena. All around them, players were growing stronger, and a few were on the cusp of hitting level twenty and selecting their classes. ¡°We need to get back out there, don¡¯t we?¡± Milly concluded. ¡°We need to stay ahead of them.¡± Calista nodded and unwrapped the package. ¡°I think this will, unfortunately, help.¡± Milly gagged. Calista help the two meals in her palms ¨C the Fairy Killer Roast and Gorath¡¯s Fingers ¨C cooked well done on the barbecue with a slight char around the edges. Despite its magic, Billy¡¯s spatula couldn¡¯t make either look appetizing. ¡°Oh god¡­¡± Milly said, as she held up one of Gorath¡¯s fingers.
Gorath¡¯s Fingers (cooked) This is a unique meal. In its cooked form, consuming Gorath¡¯s Fingers permanently increases the player¡¯s strength by eight.
¡°Fuck¡­ that¡¯s a good bonus,¡± Milly said with regret. She had hoped, deep inside, that its impact would be minimal so she didn¡¯t have to go through with this. ¡°Bottom¡¯s up?¡± Calista said as she held up her own finger. They clinked their fingers together, as if making a toast, and popped the fingers into their mouths. Milly nearly vomited. The finger tasted of old leather and musk, its meat tough and chewy. She swallowed as quickly as she could and tried to wash away the flavor with another mushroom. It didn¡¯t work. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not as bad as I expected,¡± Calista said as she licked her fingers. Milly stared at her girlfriend with disgust as she felt the finger¡¯s strength bonus take effect. ¡°You should have seen some of the meat my dad made us eat while we were hunting,¡± Calista laughed. ¡°Ever had a pan-fried frog?¡± ¡°Cally, I¡¯m trying not to throw up that finger. Please don¡¯t be gross,¡± Milly begged. ¡°Well, one down, one to go, honey.¡± Milly held up the roast.
Fairy Killer Roast (cooked) This is a unique meal. In its cooked form, consuming Fairy Killer Roast permanently increases the player¡¯s toughness by eight.
¡°It¡¯s got to be better than fingers, right?¡± Milly hoped, as they cut off a slice and popped it into their mouths. She was wrong. * * * That night, Milly and Calista walked hand-in-hand along the beach to their secret bathing pool, where they had first confessed to each other ¨C where Calista had clumsily expressed her feelings for Milly, and Milly had answered with their first kiss. In that secret place, under the starry sky, they made love on a blanket in the sand, then settled into the tropical bathing pool and let the current carry their worries away. For a brief moment, they forgot about the CEOs and the dangers that awaited them, and simply enjoyed their first bath together and the sights of the beautiful world around them. When the moon had risen high above them, they lazily strolled home to the Castle of Glass. They fell into their bed, another day behind them, and soon Milly heard the snores of her lover drift across their bedroom. She had grown used to the rhythm, and soon she too was asleep in Calista¡¯s arms, her soul filled with contentment and happiness. Knowing that tomorrow, their routine would be broken, and they would be deep into the God Contest once more. Chapter 70 - Slim Pickings ¡°Die, witch!¡± The goblin¡¯s screech was an irritating drill in Milly¡¯s ear. Lazily dodging the goblin¡¯s knife with an agile sidestep, Milly drove her fist into its stomach. Its ribs shattered as it rocketed into the air and splattered into the side of the mountain. Its corpse slid down the rocks and left a thick trail of blood behind. Did these things talk before? Luna must have added that feature. I liked it better when they didn¡¯t say anything. A spark of magic flowed from her fists into her magic reserves as the goblin died. These Obsidian Fists are pretty good. That magic absorption was enough for a blast of fire or two. Now, where are those other two? The goblin¡¯s companions came at her from behind, their rusted spears thrust forward. Leaping six feet into the air, Milly jumped over the two goblins, clearing their heads by a foot. They stumbled as their spears passed through the empty space where Milly once been. She landed behind them and smashed their heads together before they had time to recover. Two more sparks of magical energy flowed into her. They move so slowly, as if they were trudging through molasses. Or are they moving at a normal pace, and I¡¯ve grown accustomed to my new strength and speed? The goblin¡¯s leader shrieked in anger as it charged at Milly, its bone club raised above its head to strike. ¡°The last time I fought one of you goblin leaders, you hit me in the head with a rock,¡± Milly accused as she waited for the goblin to reach her. It felt agonizingly slow, and Milly found herself distracted by the knee-high wooden chest in the middle of their camp, as if the goblin leader were unimportant. I hope that chest contains better stuff than the last one. I swear, Luna, if I get one more goblin loincloth as a reward, I¡¯m going to dump them all over your bed once I find a backdoor. Then you can deal with that stench. The goblin finally arrived, and Milly blocked the club mid-swing with one palm. There was a sharp slap as the club struck, but Milly didn¡¯t feel any pain. It was as if she had caught a foam pool noodle swung by a toddler. Grabbing the goblin by its tunic and yanking it off its feet, she hurled it against the mountain beside its splattered companion. By the time she heard the sharp crack of its neck, she was already kneeling beside the wooden chest.
Congratulations! You have defeated Goblin Patrol. You have been awarded 4 experience points. Items Received: Soiled Goblin Loincloth x 4 Gold: 20
¡°God damn it, Luna,¡± Milly swore, but she couldn¡¯t stop a small smile from forming she pictured the child in her control room, giggling with childhood mischief. Milly opened the chest, tilting her head slightly to avoid the poisoned dart that shot from the latch. Even the dart felt like it moved slowly. These monsters around the Castle aren¡¯t a challenge anymore, and Luna doesn¡¯t seem to be rewarding players whose levels far outstrip their enemies. I need to get further away if I want this to be worth my while. Cally and I can start this afternoon. Milly peeked inside the chest and sighed. ¡°Yay,¡± she said with heavy sarcastically. ¡°Another one.¡± She held up the small brass ring and read its description.
Pitiful Grock¡¯s Even More Pitiful RingIf you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Grock¡¯s status in goblin society is about as low as one can get. Even the local rats get more respect than Grock. At least they can be impaled on a stick and slowly roasted over an open fire as a quick snack. All Grock can do is craft a single item ¨C a ring that raises the player¡¯s strength by one. He crafts it over and over again, hoping beyond hope that he¡¯ll finally get the recognition he deserves, before his fellow goblins realize he too can be impaled on a stick.
¡°Sorry, Grock,¡± Milly sighed as she added the ring to her inventory alongside the six identical rings she had found that morning. ¡°No recognition today. When I first got here, that ring would have raised my strength by fifty percent, but that¡¯s feels like a lifetime ago.¡± So much has changed in three weeks. Am I even the same person I was back then? She picked up the chest and turned it upside down over her inventory screen. The thirty gold coins inside cascaded into her screen and were added to her total gold. ¡°Huh, no loincloths this time,¡± she said. She carefully sniffed the inside of the chest, which smelled of cedar and metal. ¡°Finally! One that doesn¡¯t smell like goblin nether regions,¡± Milly beamed as she dropped the entire chest into her inventory. ¡°Cally will love this. It¡¯ll fit perfectly at the foot of our bed.¡± Look at me, picking out stuff for my home. Our home. With my girlfriend. Three weeks ago, I was just drifting through life, with a dead-end job and a dilapidated apartment filled with recycled furniture I¡¯d found in dumpsters. Trapped, without love and without purpose. Now? I¡­ I think I¡¯m actually enjoying my life. ¡°Although,¡± Milly laughed as she left the goblin¡¯s campsite and continued down the canyon. ¡°I guess now I¡¯m still finding furniture on the street, in a way. Some habits are hard to break. It is a nice chest.¡± The mid-morning sun had just crested above the eastern mountain, its light flooding the mountain to the west and down into the canyon below. She had left at first light, through the Arena of Choice Waypoint Pillar, and headed north into the mountains to explore. She had spent the morning crisscrossing through canyons and valleys and along animal trails that led through thick pine forest. She could cover the distance much faster than she could when they had first defeated the Arena of Choice, but the paths beyond the Arena were so meandering that it was hard to keep track of where she had been. Even after all the exploration of the morning, she knew she was no more than half an hour from the pillar. ¡°I need to push further out if I want better than these shitty items and experience,¡± she mused, thinking on the collection of useless rings, boots, tunics, and an absolute heap of goblin loincloths that had found their way to her inventory that morning. There were goblin encampments and patrols all over the mountains, though none had proven to be a challenge for the Witch of the Castle of Glass. The items she collected were completely useless, save to give to those players who still, after three weeks, had not ventured beyond the Castle of Glass. She had hoped the items could fuel her Oracle¡¯s Divination, but she quickly learned the talent¡¯s effectiveness was proportional to the strength of the item she sacrificed. She had tried to divine the location of the closest back door with one of Grock¡¯s Pitiful Rings, but all it had told her was that it was not beneath her feet. At least I can sell them at the Emporia for some gold. We¡­ oh, for fuck sakes! She reached the end of the canyon, where a tiny waterfall trickled down the cliff. It was her fifth dead end that morning. These mountains are a maze. No wonder no one has explored more than an hour beyond Pillar yet. It¡¯s just dead end after dead end! The early section of the mountain terrain ¨C the forested land between the Castle of Glass and the Waypoint Pillar, had been easy to traverse, as if it had been a normal mountain range. However, beyond the Pillar, it became far more complex. A natural ¨C or unnatural ¨C range of mountains stretched from east to west, so tall that the mountains¡¯ tree line only reached a fifth of the way up their slopes. Their summits, which pierced the clouds, were covered with thick, icy blue glaciers. Avalanches crashed in the distance as fragments of glacier cracked off and hurled down the steep mountain slopes. "All things are difficult before they are easy." Thomas Fuller, English Clergyman Milly had tried to climb over one of the mountains to avoid the maze of passageways altogether, but as she moved past the tree line, an unnatural storm had come out of nowhere to drive her back. Her magic had been useless against it, and she had been forced back the forest ¨C back into the maze. ¡°I hope that means there¡¯s something good beyond those mountains, Luna,¡± Milly mumbled as she stared up at the high cliffs. ¡°Unless Hephaestus designed it just to fuck around with the players.¡± Or perhaps it was Cizen. Shit, how much of this world did the decayed god create? We need to find more of Oracle¡¯s memory orbs. We need to know the story, so we can find out how to win this contest. And what awaits us in the wilds. Milly pressed her palm to the stone wall of the canyon and used her magic to shape the stone into a series of handholds. Pulling herself up the cliff like a master rock climber, she hauled herself onto to the top of the canyon and looked around for another way forward. She spotted an animal path heading north through the forest and decided to follow it. ¡°I¡¯ve got time for one more before I meet up with Cally,¡± she said, undeterred. ¡°Maybe this will take me where I want to go.¡± Chapter 71 - Two Birds, One Stone "Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent." Jonathan Swift, Irish Writer It was high noon when Milly appeared beneath the Castle of Glass Waypoint Pillar, having used a waypoint crystal to return after reaching yet another dead end. She was in a grumpy mood and famished, and anxious to meet up with Calista so they could explore further into the wilds. Unfortunately, that didn¡¯t happen. ¡°Let me go! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Please!¡± Passiflora¡¯s frightened protests reached Milly¡¯s ear only moments after she arrived through the Pillar. The little fairy girl had been thrown to the sand outside the lobby¡¯s beach entrance, and she was surrounded by Judy Brass¡¯ assistant Hana and the Carthage twins. ¡°You are trespassing in our home,¡± Edna Carthage sneered, her hateful eyes fixed on the child. ¡°You monsters were to remain in your camp, where we kindly allow you to live, unless you are summoned. Isn¡¯t that right, Hana?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ um¡­ yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Hana replied with a squeak. The timid woman with the tight blond ponytail looked like she hadn¡¯t stepped foot into the wilds since they arrived. Her clothes were disheveled and torn, and the only piece of equipment she wore was a small ring on her finger that Milly recognized as another Grock¡¯s Pitiful Ring. ¡°No¡­ no attending the Castle of Glass without permission. Ms. Brass¡¯ orders.¡± ¡°I... I have permission,¡± protested Passiflora, as she frantically searched for a way to escape the tight circle the three women had formed around here. ¡°Whitewing sent me to see Ying¡­ I¡¯m to be her apprentice. I have a note¡­¡± ¡°Hana, is Ying one of the faction leaders?¡± smirked Edna as she snatched the note from the child¡¯s hand and shredded it without reading. ¡°Does she have authority to grant such permission to a filthy monster?¡± ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like trespassers,¡± added Cynthia Carthage, Edna¡¯s twin sister. ¡°Monster, let me show you what we do to trespassers.¡± Cynthia held her hand over the sand and a swirl of black energy cascade down from her palm. The sand shifted and an animal leg comprised of packed sand erupted out of the ground. A muzzle appeared next, its teeth composed of sharp stones, and soon the entire summoned creature had torn itself from the beach. The sand wolf growled at Passiflora, loose pellets striking the small girl as she cowered on the beach. Passiflora hid her head beneath her arms and screamed in utter terror. Milly dashed across the sand and reached out with her telekinesis. Passiflora flew high into the air above the three women and sped straight towards Milly. The women barked their surprise at the interference from the witch, though Milly caught a sly smile at the corner of Edna¡¯s mouth, as if they had been waiting for her. The sand wolf charged straight towards Milly as Milly caught the flailing Passiflora in her arms. ¡°Woah, it¡¯s okay, Passi. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s Milly. I¡¯ve got you, honey,¡± Milly said, trying to soothe the panicked girl. The child¡¯s eyes were filled with terror as she clung tightly to Milly¡¯s dress. She shook like a leaf caught in a storm. Cradling Passiflora with one arm, Milly extended her palm towards the sand wolf. ¡°Cover your ears, Passi,¡± Milly whispered to the girl. Milly mixed fire and air, and the sand wolf disintegrated as Milly¡¯s lightning tore through it, her magic¡¯s thunderous boom audible to everyone within the Castle of Glass. The sounds of activity all around the tower suddenly ceased, and Milly felt a hundred eyes upon her. Cynthia was livid. ¡°How dare you, witch,¡± she screamed as she spat blood into the sand. The creature had been magically linked to Cynthia, and Milly had injured the woman when she had dispatched her summoned wolf. Milly tightened her grip on Passiflora and headed for the entrance to the Castle of Glass to take the girl to safety. She hoped the Carthage twins would give up. They did not. Edna cast her shadow magic, and suddenly Milly was engulfed in a cloud of intense darkness as Cynthia summoned three more wolves from the sand. Fine. You want to play this game? Let¡¯s see how you like it. ¡°Hold onto me, Passi,¡± Milly instructed the orphan girl. ¡°I¡¯ll make this quick.¡± Passiflora¡¯s tiny fingers tightened on Milly¡¯s gown as her Salem¡¯s Fury activated. Milly felt its power and emotional numbing settle over her as she listened to Cynthia¡¯s summoned beast approach.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I know how to deal with wolves,¡± Milly murmured. ¡°You chose the wrong animal, Cynthia.¡± Milly¡¯s eyes flashed icy blue, and the entire beach was swiftly covered in an intense fog that rolled in from the ocean and obscured the vision of everyone within. Everyone, that is, except for Milly. Not only did her advanced water magic improve the range, speed, and density of her fog, but Milly was able to carve out a small window within that allowed her to see her immediate surroundings. Further, she could create tiny ice crystals at regular intervals within the fog, and any disruption of those crystals would signal the movement of enemies within. It was a costly spell, but it gave Milly a significant advantage in a fight. If this is the power of advanced water magic, I need to upgrade my air, fire, and earth as soon as possible. Advanced magic is leagues above beginner level. Milly felt the movement of the wolves as they sped through the fog and disrupted her ice crystals. Dashing quickly out of from Edna¡¯s cloud of darkness, Milly headed straight for the first wolf. Her fist found its skull and it collapsed back to sand and rock. A satisfying cry of pain arose from Cynthia as the creature fell and Milly gained back a small amount of magic. A moment later, Cynthia¡¯s second and third wolves fell to her blows, and Cynthia collapsed to her knees and vomited blood. ¡°Where are you at, you fucking witch?¡± screeched Edna, twin, spiked shadow orbs nestled in her palms. ¡°I¡¯m going to¡­¡± Wham! Milly¡¯s palm crashed into the woman¡¯s chest. Edna was hurled thirty feet across the sand and struck the wall of the Castle of Glass, her head bouncing off the concrete. A swift backhand to the back of the kneeling Cynthia¡¯s head knocked the vomiting woman face-first into the sand. As the twin Carthage were rendered unconscious, Milly suddenly felt her fog being syphoned towards the Castle of Glass, as if it were being sucked into a vacuum. Milly tried to pull the fog back, but the more magic she poured into the spell, the faster the fog flowed towards the Castle. Ten seconds later, the last of her fog had disappeared and visibility had been restored on the beach. Jacob Stone, decked out in his ivory medieval armor, stood his ground at the entrance of the Castle of Glass, his great tower shield held out before him. Milly saw the last of her fog become absorbed into the shield, and the shield shimmered as if it had just been fed by her magic. ¡°That¡¯s quite enough, Ms. Brown,¡± Stone bellowed across the beach. He spoke not to her, but to the crowd that had been drawn by the fight. Hana stood white-faced and wide-eyed on the beach, as she let loose a terrified scream and ran towards Stone. Stone grabbed Hana by the waist as she arrived at his side and held her close, as if protecting the woman from the wickedness from which she fled. Milly knew it to be little more than theatre, but the crowd ate it up. ¡°Do you see, Alison?¡± Stone hollered into the crowd as the leader of the Farmer¡¯s appeared at Stone¡¯s side. ¡°The witch is dangerous. We declared her an enemy of the tower for a reason, and this is why. She cannot be allowed to accost innocent employees who were simply doing their jobs. She is a loose cannon, and she puts us all at risk. This is why we need system of justice for our new community ¨C to deal with menaces like her.¡± I¡¯ll show you justice, you pompous asshat. Milly¡¯s palms crackled with energy, her eyes filled with loathing for her former boss. Around her, whispers and gasps echoed across the crowd as the sparks from her lightning arched into the sand around her. Alison exited the lobby and ran towards Milly, her face a mix of concern and reprimand. ¡°Are you or the fairy girl hurt, Milly?¡± Alison asked, her eyes on the crowd. ¡°No, we¡¯re fine. But it was the Carthage sisters that started this! They¡­¡± Milly started to explain, but Alison interrupted her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it right now, Milly. This couldn¡¯t have come at a worse time. Stone has been looking for an excuse to install Brass as the head of some sort of puppet justice system, and you have just given him the ammunition he needs to push it through.¡± Stone planned this! I don¡¯t know how, but he set me up! ¡°Edna and Cynthia were working for Brass! They were terrorizing Passiflora on her orders,¡± protested Milly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t just let them do it. Passiflora and her people have already been through so much. They don¡¯t need to deal with that¡­ that man¡¯s bullshit!¡± Alison studied Milly with a calculated gaze. ¡°You need to understand something, Ms. Brown. Stone and Brass ¨C they¡¯re not wrong about you. You are dangerous. Look, I need you to make yourself scarce for a while. Take the fairy girl up to the medical clinic. You have my permission to take her.¡± ¡°But Stone¡­¡± ¡°Stone is not your concern. He¡¯s mine. Go. You¡¯ll find Calista up there,¡± ordered Alison with all the authority of a faction leader. ¡°Calista? What is¡­ is she alright?¡± Milly asked, suddenly filled with worry that her girlfriend had been hurt and was lying in a hospital bed. ¡°What? Yes, Ms. Gale is fine. Your friend ¨C Rain ¨C woke up a few minutes ago. Calista is there with her now.¡± Milly let Salem¡¯s Fury fade as she dashed into the Castle of Glass cradling Passiflora, past Stone and into Freelancer Tower. ¡°We need to deal with her, Alison,¡± Stone declare to the crowd as Milly passed him by and headed into the stairwell. ¡°She¡¯s a threat.¡± Alison sighed. ¡°Fine, Stone. Let¡¯s talk.¡± * * * ¡°Cally, is Rain alright? I heard she¡­¡± Milly began as she arrived at the medical clinic, until Calista wrapped her in a tight embrace. ¡°Are you hurt, my love? I heard your thunder. What did¡­ Passi!¡± Calista exclaimed as she saw the trembling fairy in Milly¡¯s arms. Milly set the fairy child down, and Ying headed over to collect her new apprentice, but Passiflora clung tightly to Milly¡¯s leg and was unwilling to let go. Milly, without thought, placed a gently hand on Passiflora¡¯s head and stroked the child¡¯s hair to comfort her. ¡°Passi and I are fine, though I can¡¯t say the same for the Carthage sisters. But I think that was all part of their plan. Stone and Brass set me up, Cally. I don¡¯t know how, but they did. Only right now, I don¡¯t care. I just want to know about Rain. Is she awake?¡± Milly asked desperately. Calista released her girlfriend from the embrace and pointed towards the cot in the corner, where an exhausted and weaken Rain sat up and smiled at her friends. ¡°Hey, Milly,¡± Rain said softly. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Milly beamed with joy. She nudged Passiflora off her leg and held the fairy child¡¯s hand as they headed to Rain¡¯s bedside. She began to speak, until she heard a soft, rumbling purr from the blankets around Rain¡¯s legs. There, curled up protectively on Rain¡¯s lap, was a grey housecat with intelligent golden eyes. Rain stroked its fur gently as the cat studied the strangers. ¡°A¡­ cat?¡± Milly asked. ¡°Where did you get a cat?¡± Passiflora reached tentatively for the feline, who sniffed the fairy child¡¯s fingers, deemed her safe, and leaned into her tiny scratches. ¡°It was an eventful sleep,¡± Rain chuckled softly. ¡°Sit, and I¡¯ll tell you about it.¡± Milly and Calista sat on the floor next to Rain, and Rain began to tell her story. Chapter 72 – Protégé "The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting." Plutarch, Greek Philosopher The methodical, piercing strike of the smith¡¯s hammer rippled out from the centre of the empty void like a pebble thrown into the centre of a lifeless pond. It was the heartbeat of creation ¨C of invention and imagination ¨C and Rain found herself instinctively drawn to it as her curiosity bested her caution. She didn¡¯t know how she found herself in this void. The last thing that she remembered was Gorath¡¯s claws tearing through her leg and being hurled away before she fell into darkness. She looked down at her mangled leg. Her flesh had been stripped to the bone, as if it had been flayed, yet she felt no pain in the void. Vaguely, her mind turned to the battle ¨C and to Calista, Rain, and Xavier ¨C but the thought felt distant. As if it had happened long ago, and it no longer mattered. The only thing she could feel was the stroke of the smith¡¯s hammer - creation embodied. The void had no solid surface beneath her feet, so she reached out towards the sound with her mind and felt her body propel forward. Soaring through the void, Rain lost all perception of time, as if she floated in a dream. She couldn¡¯t say whether she traveled for a minute or a millennium. They were, perhaps, the same thing in the void. But she had arrived where she needed to be nonetheless. The man with the hammer crouched over his anvil as his precision hammer strokes fell. He was eight-feet-tall, his hairy arms a mass of perfectly toned muscles achieved over eons. His beard, carefully tied with three straps of worn leather, fell to his chest and swung back and forth with each swing, as if it were the pendulum of a clock. Rain floated towards the anvil and gazed at the object the bearded man ¨C the god ¨C crafted. It was a small grey cube, perfectly smooth on the outside but impossibly complex within. His hammer fell once more, and Rain could sense each blow created something beautiful inside the cube. A range of mountains. A vast ocean. A raging river. A wolf. A shadowy dragon. ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve arrived,¡± the god said, staring down at the inquisitive woman who floated beside his anvil. ¡°I was wondering which of you it would be. Don¡¯t be shy. Go ahead, you can touch it.¡± Rain reached out and stroked her fingers across the top of the grey cube. She could feel an entire world contained within. A prison. A test. A future. ¡°Do you know what that is, Ms. Desjarlais?¡± asked the god curiously. ¡°The God Contest,¡± Rain replied without hesitation. She had seen it in its earliest form ¨C empty of all the intimate details that the god had created within ¨C in Oracle¡¯s memory on the beach. Yet it was not only through that memory that she knew it. It had a pulse ¨C an energy ¨C that mimicked that of the strange world she had come from. She would know this wonderous creation anywhere. ¡°And do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Hephaestus,¡± Rain answered, again without hesitation. Her eyes never left the cube. ¡°Impressive,¡± Hephaestus said, inquisitively. ¡°A few who find their way to the void do recognize the cube, though only one other in my time knew the name of its smith.¡± ¡°You are not its only smith,¡± Rain said, reflexively, her palms clasped together in a silent request. ¡°No, I am not,¡± Hephaestus answered truthfully. He grasped the cube between two fingers and placed it gently in Rain¡¯s waiting palms. ¡°There were three smiths that crafted the essence of the thirteenth God Contest. I am but one ¨C He who built the world.¡± The cube was impossibly light and infinitely fragile, yet Rain could feel the heavy weight of responsibility press down upon her, as if the fate of existence itself now rested in her hands. Rain found herself cradling the object as if she were holding an egg and the life inside were a hair away from being extinguished. ¡°Oracle ¨C my dearest Oracle ¨C She who built the heart ¨C created its AI Director. And Cizen ¨C my oldest friend ¨C who he who gave the thirteenth its deepest secrets.¡± Hephaestus sighed regretfully. ¡°We had so little time, you see. We worked apart ¨C isolated from one another ¨C out of fear that our actions would become known to our High Lord. The thirteenth was the unsanctioned God Contest ¨C experimental to its very core. An experiment that crossed the line into blasphemy. Yet what were we to do? At the end, madness spread amongst the gods like wildfire, and even the Nexus itself was infected. There was no other way.¡± Rain gingerly placed the cube back on the anvil and felt relieved as its mental weight lifted from her shoulders. ¡°Why am I here?¡± Rain asked simply. ¡°I know Gorath hurt me. Badly. But I don¡¯t feel dead. So there must be another reason I am standing here next to you.¡± Hephaestus smiled at Rain¡¯s calm, curious analysis. ¡°You are not dead. Your friends survived the Arena of Protection, and you now rest at your Castle of Glass. You shall awaken soon, which is why I summoned you here.¡± Hephaestus slung his hammer across his back and placed the cube inside the pocket of his apron. ¡°Come, have a drink we me, Rain Desjarlais. I have a proposal I wish you to hear.¡± Rain floated beside the smithing god as they walked away from the anvil. Around them, the void slowly filled in with detail, piece by piece, until they stood within a facsimile of Rain On My Parade, its few tables as empty of customers as they had been in the real world. ¡°Perhaps a nice cup of Dark Introspection?¡± suggested the god as he lowered himself into one of her rickety folding chairs. The chair¡¯s legs strained under the weight of the god and his hammer, but miraculously held. ¡°Yes, sir. Coming right up,¡± Rain said in her customer service voice. She darted behind her counter and grabbed the tin filled with her signature tea that she and Milly had named on the night they first met. ¡°Sugar or honey?¡± ¡°Black is fine,¡± Hephaestus chuckled. The god looked more out of place here than he had been in the middle of an empty void. A second or an eternity later, Rain placed the two cups of Dark Introspection on the table and sat in the chair across from the god. Hephaestus picked up the teacup between two meaty fingers and took an experimental sip. ¡°Ah, I see. It is a wonderful concoction. You have a wonderful mind, Ms. Desjarlais.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just Rain, if you like. And I¡¯ve always liked creating things. It¡¯s why I was so drawn to the coffee and tea business, and why I wanted to open my own place. There are an infinite combination of ingredients that I can experiment with, and while most will be no good, a few, like Dark Introspection, have the potential to become something extraordinary.¡± ¡°Invention is the art of many failures paving the road to success,¡± Hephaestus mused. ¡°Though it¡¯s equally possible that such a road leads you to the edge of a cliff.¡± ¡°Like the God Contest,¡± Rain surmised. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been successful with humans.¡± ¡°No, it hasn¡¯t,¡± Hephaestus admitted. ¡°And I fear I shall not live long enough to know if this final attempt leads to success or hurls us all off the cliff.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Rain gazed at the god and saw tears in the corner of his eyes. He wiped them away with his hairy hand before they fell. ¡°I held it off as long as I could¡­,¡± Hephaestus said, staring out the window at the beautiful ocean he had designed. ¡°The madness. I watched it take so many of my fellow gods, and for a while, I thought my isolation ¨C my obsession ¨C with designing the thirteenth would keep me safe so that I might see it through to the end. It did not.¡± Hephaestus held out his arm, and Rain could see tendrils of black liquid crawling under his skin, like worms burrowing through the soil. ¡°We had just finished the base skeleton of the thirteenth. The plot of the game, if you will, and the base world where it would play out,¡± Hephaestus continued. ¡°Cizen and I were celebrating in my workshop when exhaustion finally caught up to me and I collapsed. When I awoke, the madness had infected me.¡± ¡°How¡­ how much more did you have left to design?¡± Rain asked as she traced her finger along the tendrils in Hephaestus¡¯ arm. ¡°Too much. Far too much,¡± Hephaestus admitted. ¡°Cizen did what he could to slow down the madness, but all his attempts served only to accelerate its spread. I had mere months, which in god-time, might as well be the blink of an eye. This, Rain, brings us to why I have brought you here.¡± Hephaestus flicked his wrist, and a screen appeared before him.
Specialty Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦
¡°I was an artist who had sketched the outline of his masterpiece, only to pass before my vision could be finished. It was to be left to Oracle¡¯s untested AI Director to fill in the blanks. But, despite Oracle¡¯s efforts, I did not believe that an artificial being could handle such a vast responsibility. It would be but a child, asked to finish the work of a master.¡± The tendrils of madness spread up Hephaestus¡¯ arm and into his neck. His neck muscles bulged in protest, but the madness continued unimpeded. ¡°I knew if humans were to stand a chance in the thirteenth, there would need to player for whom the incomplete contest would be a source of strength, rather than a detriment. A player that could see the blank canvas for what it was ¨C limitless potential. A player filled with creativity, with a mind for invention and experimentation.¡± Hephaestus chuckled. ¡°You might say I took a lesson from my darling wife. She knew we could not finish the thirteenth, so she birthed the AI Director to empower the thirteenth to complete itself. I, on the other hand, choose to empower a player. I spent my final month of sanity creating the Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ class, in the hope that a player would prove worthy of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ very clever,¡± Rain praised, genuinely impressed. She willed the player screen to expand so she could read the full description of the class.
Specialty Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ The Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ specialty class grants the following to the player: The World Smith¡¯s Blank Canvas: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ is the beneficiary of Hephaestus¡¯ incomplete work. Normally, a player¡¯s crafting skill is restricted by in-game rules regarding quality, quantity, and type of enhancements allowed to be imbued on items and equipment. These rules do not apply to Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦. Further, unlike other players, Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ gains the ability to modify and enhance existing items and equipment. The Master of Invention: At the core of Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ is a heart of imagination. Possessing the spirit of an artist, scientist, and entrepreneur, the player gains an instinctive ability for design and manipulation of the world around here. She gains access to Hephaestus¡¯ Hidden Invention talent web. She immediately gains two invention talent points and gains an invention talent point every two levels, in addition to the standard talent point progression. Driver of Evolution: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ is a tireless driver of innovation, drawing from her very essence to fuel the creativity that evolves the world. She immediately increases her agility and magic attributes by twenty. Only the Original: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ has dedicated her life to the pursuit of the new and feels weighed down by the status quo. Each reproduction by the Prot¨¦g¨¦ of an already invented item is 50% less effective than the one before it. This does not apply to alchemy involving common potions and remedies. The Innocuous Flaw: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ is allergic to shellfish. It won¡¯t kill her ¨C just make her really itchy. That¡¯s all.
¡°I had to design the class within the game¡¯s parameters, you understand. Three benefits, two detriments. Violating those rules would have put the entire thirteenth in jeopardy,¡± Hephaestus explained apologetically. ¡°Though¡­ I might have bent the rule on that last detriment, just a little bit.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like shellfish anyways,¡± Rain said, her mind already teaming with creative experiments she wanted to try. ¡°It¡¯s perfect. It¡¯s like it was made for me.¡± ¡°This specialty class can be powerful, Rain, especially after you get access to its sub-class and subsequent enhancements. This is but the tip of the iceberg. But don¡¯t overestimate it either,¡± warned Hephaestus. ¡°It¡¯s not a fast-track to success. You¡¯re not going to be able to, say, make a leather vest that transforms you into a half-shark, half-goat creature that shoots fire from its eyes on day one. You need the right materials, and the materials for particularly powerful creations will be very hard to acquire. But when you do get them¡­ well, let¡¯s just say you¡¯ll have fun. The class, if you accept it, will complement your pendant and mage alchemist specialty talent as well, taking both to new heights.¡± ¡°A half-shark, half-goat isn¡¯t normally allowed?¡± asked Rain. ¡°There was a¡­ well, let¡¯s call it a disagreement, between Naigamesha and Poseidon during the sixty-seventh contest. The result was a restriction on mixing animals from different terrains. Your fellow players can¡¯t create such an item, but, with this class, you could.¡± ¡°My tea brewing¡­¡± Rain asked as she sipped her Dark Introspection. ¡°Does ¡®Only the Original¡¯ apply to something like that?¡± ¡°Apparently the AI Director considers that to be a form of alchemy, so your tea won¡¯t get progressively worse the more you brew it,¡± Hephaestus laughed. ¡°You can make standard alchemy creations, such as healing potions, without a degradation in quality, though there are some particularly unique potions where it would apply.¡± Rain breathed a sigh of relief. She was about to accept the specialty class, when another thought crossed her mind. The madness had stretched from Hephaestus¡¯ neck to beneath his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not the real Hephaestus, are you? Lugh Samild¨¤nach, in the Arena of Choice, was only a manifestation. You¡¯re a duplicate imbedded in the contest, built from his memories.¡± ¡°Yes. Hephaestus installed me in the contest ¨C in this hidden void ¨C just as the madness reached his mind. I was his last addition to the thirteenth.¡± ¡°What happened to you¡­ to him¡­ after that?¡± ¡°If all went according to plan, I left a letter for my wife in my workshop, and I threw myself into the heart of the Nexus. I returned by essence back into creation, before the madness took it instead,¡± Hephaestus replied matter-of-factly. ¡°You¡­ you killed yourself?¡± Rain asked, dismayed. ¡°It was better than the alternative,¡± replied Hephaestus. ¡°The madness robs you of all your senses and devolves you to your base instincts. Everything that make you who you are dissolves into a cloud of violence and debauchery. In the haze of the disease, you wither away, bit-by-bit, until nothing remains but a mindless shell. At the end, even that shell decays away. You are lost, forever. At least with my way, I am in control of my fate at the end. My essence will rejoin the cycle of life, and, if I am lucky, be integrated into a future species the Nexus creates. Should the Nexus survive.¡± ¡°How¡­ how many of the gods are left?¡± Rain asked softly, afraid to know the answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Hephaestus, as he reached into his pocket and placed the cube on the table. ¡°As a memory, I don¡¯t know how much time has passed between my death and the launch of the thirteenth. It could have been a day or a hundred years. There were thousands of gods, but I fear, in my darkest thoughts, there may be but a handful who remain, and those few may be too far gone to madness to bear witness to your struggles. You are a mouse abandoned in a maze, Rain Desjarlais. The man who placed you there is dead on the floor of his lab.¡± Rain fell silent, and a steady rain began to pitter-patter against the window. ¡°I¡¯ll accept your class, Hephaestus,¡± Rain finally said, and the old god nodded his approval. ¡°I hope I can do it justice.¡± ¡°Ms. Desjarlais, I have no doubt that you will. Thank you¡­ for everything¡­ may you bring salvation to your people. And a glimmer of hope to mine¡­¡± Rain blinked, and suddenly she was alone in Rain On My Parade, the god¡¯s empty teacup and the cube the only evidence he had been there. ¡°Good-bye, Hephaestus,¡± whispered Rain. ¡°We¡¯ll win the thirteenth. I promise.¡±
Rain Desjarlais Level: 22 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 21 Enhanced: 21 Agility: Base: 34 Enhanced: 40 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 15 Enhanced: 24 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +3 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: Base: 34 Enhanced: 42 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Alchemy - Alchemy (advanced), Combat - Dagger Specialist (advanced) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (advanced) Invention ¨C Prot¨¦g¨¦''s Bounty (beginner) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Talents: The World Smith¡¯s Blank Canvas, The Master of Invention, Driver of Evolution, The Innocuous Flaw, Only the Original Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination)
Chapter 73 - Anchovy "I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through." Jules Verne, French Author Inside the fabrication of Rain On My Parade, Rain nursed her third cup of tea as she scrolled through Hephaestus¡¯ Hidden Invention talents and finalized her talent selections. She¡¯d been pleasantly surprised to discover that Hidden Invention included new talents as well as existing options that focused on creativity and creation. Alchemy and metal magic were both on the list, and Rain didn¡¯t hesitate to upgrade both to advanced level with her first two talent points. That left her with one regular talent and one invention talent to choose, as well as her six attribute points. ¡°I can¡¯t just focus on invention, as much as I want to,¡± Rain deduced as she studied her player screen. ¡°I¡¯ll need speed and strength to survive the wilds and find those rare materials. I won¡¯t be much of a prot¨¦g¨¦ if I don¡¯t have anything to be creative with.¡± Replying the battle with Gorath in her mind, Rain analyzed her missteps until she narrowed down her weaknesses to two key areas: her low strength and her beginner-level dagger skills. ¡°I only have a strength of fifteen, which is far below Milly and Calista. I couldn¡¯t overcome the strength gap with Gorath, and he tossed me around like a rag doll. He was faster than I was as well, but the agility enhancement from Driver of Evolution was enough to bridge that gap.¡± Looking down at her torn leg with a sigh, she added her attribute points to strength. ¡°I really need equipment that boosts my strength. I¡¯ll add that to the top of my crafting list. Now, for my other gap ¨C my dagger skills. Beginner level isn¡¯t enough anymore. I need to be more adaptive in a fight. I¡¯ve just been stabbing monsters in the back, and that won¡¯t work forever. What if we come across a beast with no back?¡± Chuckling to herself, she used her general talent point to move her Dagger Specialist talent to advanced. A wave of combat knowledge flooded into her mind, and suddenly she knew a half dozen alternative tactics she could have used on Gorath. ¡°I¡¯ll need additional daggers to make half of those tactics work though. Oh, I could enchant each with a different ability to increase my options. Those will be next on my crafting list.¡± ¡°Now, my final class talent,¡± she said aloud. She stared at the player screen and asked it a question. ¡°I need materials. What talents are there to help me find them?¡± The player screen zoomed in on the Hidden Invention web and highlighted five different talents before settling on one outlined in gold.
Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty Prerequisite: Nature¡¯s Bounty Nature¡¯s Bounty grants the player an instinctive knowledge of the alchemic and magical properties of plants and animals. When upgraded to Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty, this knowledge is expanded to include any item that can be used for crafting. In addition, Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty allows the player to spend magic to pinpoint the approximate location of a specified material. Range: One mile per player level. If the player has a familiar, the familiar also gains this talent.
¡°Hephaestus, you know just what a girl needs,¡± Rain chuckled. ¡°Now, if only I had a familiar.¡± ¡°Perhaps I can help with that.¡± Startled, Rain looked towards the entrance to Rain On My Parade. A strange Tutoria stood in the doorway. She wore a white dress shirt, brown vest, black suspenders, and a bright red bowtie. It looked like she had strayed from a carnival. The Tutoria enthusiastically strolled over and plopped herself down across from Rain in the same chair Hephaestus had used. ¡°Hi-ya, Rain,¡± Tutoria greeted her chipperly. ¡°You were deep into thought, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you. Did you finish your level up?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ yes? I guess I did,¡± Rain responded as she mentally accepted the Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty talent. ¡°Good, because I have something else for you. Something wonderful,¡± Tutoria said. ¡°Your reward for winning the Arena of Protection.¡± She swiped her hands over the table and sent the teacups tumbling. Rain¡¯s hand darted out, her newly enhanced agility fueling her reflexes, and caught the God Contest cube before it struck the floor. ¡°Hey, be careful Tutoria,¡± Rain said as she clutched the cube to her breast. ¡°Oh, relax Rain. This stuff isn¡¯t real. That¡¯s not the actual God Contest you¡¯re clutching like a baby,¡± scoffed Tutoria. She leaned across the table until her nose was just a hair away from the surface of the cube. ¡°Although it is quite a detailed replica. I wonder if he included Tutorias in there. Probably not.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he?¡± asked Rain. ¡°The Tutorias were created after Hephaestus died,¡± explained Tutoria. ¡°A last minute addition, to assist the AI Director.¡± ¡°Oh, that makes sense,¡± Rain nodded. ¡°Oracle knew the Director would need help.¡± ¡°No,¡± Tutoria replied knowingly. ¡°We Tutorias weren¡¯t created by Oracle.¡± ¡°But if you weren¡¯t made by Oracle, and Hephaestus died before you were created, then that means¡­¡± Tutoria winked and pressed her finger to her lips. ¡°Our little secret, okay. Don¡¯t go repeating that, or we may both get in trouble. Trust me. You don¡¯t want that to happen.¡± Tutoria leaned back and swept her hand back across the empty table. It filled with miniature figurines. ¡°But secrets aren¡¯t why we are here. I was going to wait until you were conscious to do this,¡± explained Tutoria. ¡°But then your friends dropped me into a lake. I decided it was healthier for my sanity to finish with you and Xavier in this mental world rather than in the physical one.¡± Rain had no idea what Tutoria was talking about, but the absurdity of her story made her laugh. ¡°Calista and Mils dropped you into a lake?¡± ¡°Yes, despite the very clear instructions I provided. I was the laughing stock of the other Tutorias when I got back. I had to pick algae out of my hair, Rain.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Gross. So, how does this work?¡± asked Rain curiously. ¡°They represent prizes, right?¡± ¡°Correct!¡± Tutoria said chipperly. ¡°You earned eight points from the arena ¨C not bad, considering you spent half of the battle flat on your back. You can exchange those points for these prizes.¡± ¡°Clever. Very creative. I like it,¡± Rain said as she studied her options. Tutoria beamed. ¡°You this so?¡± Tutoria smiled. ¡°Thanks, Rain.¡± ¡°You mentioned familiars?¡± Rain prompted, her eyes fixed on a grey housecat with golden eyes. It bore a remarkable resemblance to her childhood pet Anchovy, whom her brother Bill had accidentally run over with his car when she was fourteen. ¡°I sure did,¡± Tutoria said. She selected two of the miniatures and placed one in each palm. Unlike the other miniatures, these two moved as if they were alive. The first was the grey adult housecat, which mischievously stalked across Tutoria¡¯s palm as if it were searching for a plant to knock off a shelf. The other familiar was a tiny version of the beast Fairy Killer, only this one was still a puppy. It rolled playfully on Tutoria¡¯s palm, wagging its tail happily. It was adorable, yet Rain couldn¡¯t help but picture the monstrous beast that it would grow into. ¡°They are each five points,¡± prompted Tutoria. ¡°The cat is a utility familiar. It has its own abilities, which tailor to the needs of its master upon selection. But it has a heck of an attitude and expects to be pampered daily, though only when it wants to be.¡± ¡°So, in other words, it¡¯s a cat?¡± Rain concluded, and Tutoria laughed. ¡°Exactly. And the wolf is very much a puppy. Its skills are focused on battle, but its temperament will depend on how it is raised. The wolves raised Fairy Killer to be¡­ well, a killer, so that was what it became. But that is not its only path. It does have a tendency towards aggression though, especially when fully grown, and some masters need an aid, such as that whip Gorath had, to control the beast.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the cat,¡± Rain said without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m more of a cat person anyway. Plus, I think having a baby Fairy Killer wandering around would be awkward, specially around the Fairies.¡± ¡°Good choice,¡± Tutoria said as the miniature began to grow into a full sized cat. ¡°What are you going to name it?¡± ¡°Anchovy,¡± Rain answered as she felt her mind form a link with her new familiar. Its ¨C his ¨C personality shone through like a beacon. She could feel curiosity and intelligence within the feline, and a fierce battle between his independence and dependence on others. He felt like a mirror to Rain¡¯s soul, with the exception of the powerful desire to hunt mice. Anchovy, her bonded familiar, arched his back in an exaggerated yawn, as if he had just woken up from a very long nap. A familiar screen popped into existence above Anchovy¡¯s head.
Anchovy II Level: 1 Specialty: Familiar Strength: Base: 1 Enhanced: 1 Agility: Base: 10 Enhanced: 10 Toughness: Base: 2 Enhanced: 2 Magic: Base: 15 Enhanced: 15 Talents: Combat ¨C Claws (beginner) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced) Invention ¨C Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty (beginner) Assassin ¨C Stalk Rodent (advanced), Pounce (advanced) Commerce ¨C Shopkeeper (beginner)
¡°Shopkeeper?¡± Rain asked with a laugh. ¡°Are you telling me he can help me run Rain On My Parade?¡± ¡°He¡¯s an intelligent creature, Rain,¡± Tutoria explained. ¡°He may not be able to make tea for your customers, but he¡¯s certainly smart enough to take their money.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not able to make tea yet, but give me a little bit of time and I¡¯ll fix that,¡± Rain said, her inventive mind already creating three different ways to overcome that limitation. Anchovy meowed his approval. It¡¯s short, high-pitched chirp caused Rain¡¯s spirits to lift. Leaping onto the table, Anchovy sauntered over to Rain as he trampled over every miniature in his path. Rain could sense the cat was intentionally swinging his bushy grey tail side-to-side to maximize the number of miniatures he knocked over along the way. Rain laughed as Tutoria gave an annoyed huff. She grumbled that the arrogance of humans and cats were on par with each other as she righted each of the miniatures. Anchovy sat in front of Rain and stared up at her, his golden eyes burrowing into her own. Rain scratched him between the ears ¨C where his namesake had liked to be scratched ¨C and her new familiar purred softly. He leaped off the table and onto her lap, curled up, and fell asleep. ¡°Anchovy used to sleep on my lap too,¡± Rain said, gently stroking his fur. In the minute they had been bonded, she already knew Anchovy would be her trusted companion, a precious thing in a world where such trust could mean the difference between life and death. ¡°Thank you, Tutoria.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very welcome, Rain,¡± Tutoria said softly. ¡°Now, you still have three more points to spend.¡± They spent the next thirty minutes going through the items Rain could afford with her three points. She dismissed each one in turn, until finally they were out of options. There were several solid choices, but Rain knew she could craft them all herself once she found the right materials. In the end, she exchanged her remaining three points for a small fortune in gold, which would allow her to buy the alchemy and crafting equipment she required from the Emporia. ¡°Well then, Rain,¡± Tutoria said, as Rain¡¯s gold increased by twelve thousand. ¡°That¡¯s the last of your business in this empty void. I¡¯m told its time for you to finally wake up.¡± Rain could feel it as well. An insistent pull away from the void. Rain On My Parade began to collapse around her. The void beyond grew weaker, and it felt like she was slowly waking up from a dream. Rain wrapped her hands protectively around Anchovy, and he nuzzled her palm to assure his new master that he would be leaving with her. ¡°Good luck Rain,¡± called Tutoria as she faded from sight. ¡°Take care of Anchovy. Oh, and tell Milly and Calista I said to go fuck themselves. Can¡¯t believe they dropped me in a lake¡­¡± Tutoria disappeared, but her head popped back into existence a second later. ¡°Actually, given what those two have been up to these past few days, ¡®go fuck themselves¡¯ might not be the best choice of words. Just express my vigorous anger to them, won¡¯t you? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find the right words. You¡¯re a clever woman.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Tutoria,¡± Rain laughed, as she felt herself pulled from the void and back to reality. * * * Rain slowly opened her eyes. The stained ceiling tiles and musky scent of the Castle of Glass greeted her as the bright noonday sun streamed through the windows. After a week without use, the light stung her eyes. She could feel pain in her chest and her leg, but it was a dull pain, a distant sensation from what it had been during the battle. Anchovy was curled up on her lap, and the steady rumble of his purr gave her strength. She sat up, careful not to disturb her new companion. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake,¡± Ying said as she spotted her now conscious patient. She signaled to Tyrell, who headed for the elevator to inform Calista and Elmer. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Alive,¡± Rain croaked. She was sore all over, and her voice was scratchy from lack of use. She was parched and her stomach growled. ¡°And the cat?¡± Ying inquired. ¡°It seems like new pets are a theme this afternoon.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rain asked, instinctively stroking Anchovy¡¯s furry head. He leaned encouragingly into her palm. Ying pointed towards Xavier. He was still unconscious in his cot, but he was no longer alone. A small, three-headed puppy lay on Xavier¡¯s lap, playfully burrowing its head into Xavier¡¯s blanket. Anchovy hissed as the beast yipped with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s been here for five minutes, and it has already bit one of my healers,¡± Ying commented. ¡°It¡¯s fiercely protective of him.¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s going to become a thing,¡± replied Rain. ¡°At least he won¡¯t be alone anymore.¡± Rain was still watching the puppy when Calista burst into the clinic and wrapped her in a fierce hug as happy tears streamed down her face. Rain hugged her back, her pain momentarily forgotten, and when Milly joined them a few minutes later ¨C their family back together ¨C she felt like she was home. Rain Desjarlais Level: 22 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 21 Enhanced: 21 Agility: Base: 34 Enhanced: 40 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 15 Enhanced: 24 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +3 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: Base: 34 Enhanced: 42 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Alchemy - Alchemy (advanced), Combat - Dagger Specialist (advanced) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (advanced) Invention ¨C Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty (beginner) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Talents: The World Smith¡¯s Blank Canvas, The Master of Invention, Driver of Evolution, The Innocuous Flaw, Only the Original Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Chapter 74 – Guerrilla Warfare "Guerrilla was is a kind of war waged by the few but dependent on the support of the many." B. H. Liddell Hart, British Historian ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be me who has the cat?¡± asked Milly she watched Anchovy stalk around their new home, searching for errant mice. ¡°Aren¡¯t witches supposed to have cats?¡± ¡°Not always,¡± laughed Rain, as she leaned back on their leather couch and rested her foot on the coffee table. Calista frowned as Rain wiggled her bare toes against its surface, but didn¡¯t have the heart to say anything to their injured friend. ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s a mouse or a rat. You could make an undead mouse for yourself, Mils, if Anchovy¡¯s hunt is successful.¡± Milly gave Rain a disgusted look. ¡°Not a chance. I¡¯m still trying to shake the last impressions of those exploding muskrats from my mind.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Rain laughed. ¡°But I think it¡¯d be cute.¡± ¡°And honey, we are not getting a cat,¡± Calista said firmly, her head resting on Milly¡¯s lap. ¡°I don¡¯t want to wake up covered in cat hair or have to clean a litter box. Anchovy will be bad enough for that. Besides, I¡¯m a dog person, so if you want a pet, go grab that puppy from Xavier. It¡¯ll have a better life with us than if it gets raised by that maniac.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Rain said protectively. ¡°Out of all the choices Tutoria offered, Xavier picked that little guy. You know he¡¯s got no one in his life. He needs something to care for, and something that cares about him. Maybe it will help him figure out a different path.¡± ¡°We¡¯d never get it away from Xavier anyway,¡± Milly added. ¡°It¡¯s just a puppy, but it¡¯s already so protective of him. It won¡¯t leave his side.¡± ¡°Ying says it¡¯ll be a while before Xavier wakes,¡± Rain said. ¡°I still need to thank him for saving my life.¡± Ying had transitioned Rain to Milly¡¯s, but Xavier, although stable, needed hourly healing. Ying had handed Milly instructions on the type and duration of healing that Rain would need over the next three days, at which time she should be fully healed. ¡°But no big adventures until then, Ms. Desjarlais,¡± Ying had instructed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you back here tomorrow. I¡¯ve got other patients that need my attention, and a new apprentice to teach.¡± It had taken an hour before Passiflora had calmed down enough for Ying to begin her apprenticeship. While Milly helped Rain settle into their new home on the fourteenth floor, Passiflora distracted herself by following the healers around the clinic. Milly was worried about the effect of Xavier¡¯s presence on the child but seeing him unconscious in his cot seemed to ease Passiflora¡¯s mind. As if knowing he was helpless gave her strength. She¡¯s a resilient child. She¡¯s had to be, with all the losses in her life. I know what that¡¯s like. She needs to feel safe and surrounded by people who care for her. She needs what I never had. That afternoon, Milly spoke with Twotongue, who agreed, over Tentongue¡¯s protests, that Passiflora should remain in Freelancer Tower for the duration of her apprenticeship rather than travel between The Inlet of New Beginnings and the Castle of Glass. They didn¡¯t know what the Carthage sisters ¨C who were already fully healed ¨C would do if they came across Passiflora alone. Stone had assured the Chief Elder it wouldn¡¯t happen again and returned their latest shipment of food as restitution, and Lightpaw had little choice but to accept. The Fairies were in no position to protest what had happened to Passiflora. Calista, laden with a couple thousand gold from Rain, had headed down to the Emporia and transformed the southwest corner office into a child¡¯s bedroom. When she was done, it was a room any child ¨C fairy or human ¨C would love. A hammock, broad enough to accommodate Passiflora¡¯s shimmering wings, hung from the ceiling in the southeast corner of the office, which gave the child a beautiful view of the jungle and prairie terrains and the growing garden below. The hammock was filled with colorful pillows and a blue child-sized blanket patterned with various sea creatures. She had her own dresser against the prairie wall, which, unlike their dresser, made sense to Milly since Passiflora did not have an inventory system. Milly had given her the goblin chest to use for her toys once she obtained some. She had nothing from her old life, and Milly could see the absence of the familiar weighed on her. In the windowless corner, Milly had set up the tent they had used in the wilds and filled it with enough blankets and pillows that the small fairy could bury herself within and stay hidden. Her own private sanctuary. As a child, the only place Milly could hide when she was scared was her closet, and it was cramped, uncomfortable, and, unfortunately, ineffective. Milly knew Passiflora would have nights when fear clutched at her heart, and she would need her safe space to find herself again. Though there would be nights where even that would not be enough to keep the terrors at bay. Tonight ¨C Passiflora¡¯s first night in her new home ¨C was one of those nights. ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t¡­ please¡­¡± came Passiflora¡¯s muffled cry from her bedroom. She was mumbling in her sleep, trapped in a nightmare. Calista lifted her head off Milly¡¯s lap. ¡°Poor girl,¡± Calista said tenderly. ¡°Should I, or do you want to?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Milly replied, giving her girlfriend a kiss on the forehead as she headed to Passiflora¡¯s bedroom. Rain playfully gag at their show of affection, and Calista hurled one of their many throw pillows at her. Passiflora was asleep in the tent, half buried beneath the pillows. She squirmed in her sleep, her forehead beaded with sweat, in the grip of the terrors that intruded on her dreams. Despite her exhaustion after the day¡¯s events, the fairy child had been ecstatic when she learned she¡¯d be living with Milly during her apprenticeship. She¡¯d spent the first hour in her new home showing off her improved healing magic to the adults. Rain even let her practice on her little toe, though Milly had to fix it when Passiflora wasn¡¯t looking. Milly reached into the tent and gently lifted Passiflora out, cradling her to her chest. ¡°Shhh¡­ Passi, it¡¯s okay. You¡¯re safe now," whispered Milly as she carried Passiflora back to the couch. The child did not wake, and soon settled into a peaceful slumber in Milly¡¯s arms. ¡°Poor thing,¡± Rain said as Milly settled down next to Calista on the couch. ¡°Those Carthage sisters are just awful, and Stone and Brass are worse,¡± Calista spat. She reached for the printout she had torn from the bulletin board outside Tower One.
NOTICE Mildred Brown, Employee #4950 (aka The Witch) has returned to the Castle of Glass. Today, she attacked three of our most trusted employees. In response, a system of justice will be implemented at the Castle of Glass. In three days, we shall hold a hearing on this matter. Ms. Brown will answer for her crimes! Do not interact with this individual. She is unstable and dangerous. - Judy Brass, Chief Judge of Castle Court -
At the bottom of the page was the photo from Milly¡¯s employee ID. Her greasy hair, acne-covered face, and perpetual frown, all wrapped up in her dirty black hoodie, was anything but flattering. It looked like the goth mugshot of someone who was homeless, which, at the time, she had been. ¡°At the negotiations, they admitted that they demonized Milly so they could use people¡¯s fear of her to control them. And here they are, doubling down on their lies!¡± Calista declared in outrage. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Alison agreed to their demands. Brass isn¡¯t even pretending this will be a fair hearing.¡± ¡°Cally, inside voice,¡± Milly whispered. The child in her arms gave a tiny whimper and snuggled into Milly¡¯s gown. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out. At least they said I was dangerous ¨C I did like that part.¡± ¡°Sometimes, I just think we should... you know,¡± Cally muttered as she made a stabbing motion in the air. ¡°Before they do it to us.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I could do that¡­ to a person,¡± Milly said uncertainly, though the child in her arms and the woman at her side made her question if she could cross that line if she needed to. Salem¡¯s Fury dulls my emotions. Could I do it under its influence? I want to say I wouldn¡¯t. I want to believe the God Contest hasn¡¯t changed me that much in three weeks. But¡­ if it came down to it¡­ I just don¡¯t know. ¡°We could just drive them away from the Castle of Glass,¡± Calista suggested. ¡°They have it coming to them.¡± ¡°Do they?¡± Rain chimed in with an inquisitive tone. She sat up straight and winced as the movement shot pain up her leg. ¡°I don¡¯t think our coworkers would agree with you.¡± ¡°Elmer and the other Freelancers¡­¡± Calista started, but Rain interrupted her. ¡°They are only a small fraction of the players in this contest,¡± Rain reminded them. ¡°Stone, Brass, and Shufflebottom have nearly five hundred players. Players who are loyal to their CEOs.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t be that loyal,¡± Milly doubted. ¡°Stone and Brass are ruthless, and they¡¯re only out for themselves.¡± Rain thought for a long moment as she studied her friends. ¡°I believe eliminating the CEOs ¨C especially Stone ¨C would be the end of all of us,¡± Rain concluded. She raised her hand when Calista started to protest. ¡°Let me explain, Calista.¡± Rain turned to stare out the window as she collected her thoughts. ¡°Take yourselves out of the equation for a moment,¡± Rain began. ¡°And put yourselves in the shoes of, say, your former manager, Mr. Fredrickson.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not,¡± Milly mumbled. ¡°He never even bothered to learn my name. He kept calling me Milby.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°It¡¯s important that you try, so you can understand all the dynamics at the Tower,¡± Rain lectured with a seriousness they had not seen from her before. ¡°Mr. Fredrickson isn¡¯t a member of Stone¡¯s inner circle. He¡¯s just another player. You¡¯ve barely seen him since the God Contest started, but before we left for the wilds, I got to know him a little. Mr. Fredrickson ¨C Frank ¨C is just a guy in a dead-end marriage and drowning in debt. He¡¯d been fired from his previous job and it was two years before another company would touch him. That company was Acicenter, and it gave Frank the chance he needed to pull himself out of his spiraling life.¡± ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know that about him,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°How many of your coworkers were in similar circumstances? I mean, no offense you two, but none of you were at Acicentre because your lives were going in the direction you wanted them. It¡¯s not the kind of company people work for when they have another choice. EnergyWave and Legal Eagles are like that too. Hell, the entire Castle of Glass is notorious for that. The last resort of desperate people.¡± I was at Acicenter because it was the only place that would hire me ¨C a high school dropout without a home. Xavier was completely socially inept, and Cally¡­ well, Cally had her own issues. How many of us were there for reasons like that? ¡°So, there Frank is, finally given a second chance. He knows Stone is¡­ unorthodox¡­ and the company is more than a little shady. But he has a steady paycheck, and a secretary turned lover that makes him smile. It may not be the life he expected, but it was a decent life.¡± ¡°Then, without warning, his entire life ¨C and the life of his lover ¨C is thrown into absolute, bat-shit crazy chaos. Monsters. Starvation. Death. That first day he saw an ogre crush a man¡¯s skull. His terror is unimaginable, and he has no idea what to do. But then Stone takes charge and says ¡®Follow me. I will lead you through this chaos to safety.¡¯ The man who gave him his second chance, and he grabs that lifeline and holds on for dear life. A lighthouse in a storm.¡± Calista and Milly were silent, their minds whirling as Rain continued. ¡°That¡¯s Franks frame of mind when he is evaluating the actions of the CEOs. Everyone who follows their lead has a story like that. The CEOs rallied frightened people around them with a promise to feed and protect them ¨C to fix all their problems. When the Freelancers broke away, Frank was told they were troublesome employees who would get everyone killed. When the CEOs locked us out of the Castle of Glass during the Battle of Tower Beach, Frank was told it was to protect him and Priyanka, and that the goblin army would never have attacked if it hadn¡¯t been for the Witch of the Castle of Glass and her Freelancer friends.¡± ¡°Good people died because of what Stone and Brass did,¡± Calista protested. ¡°Mothers. Fathers. Friends. They were Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s ¨C Frank¡¯s ¨C employees too, and they would have lived if not for what they did.¡± ¡°Yes, that is true. Locking us out that day was the first ¨C perhaps the only ¨C misstep the CEOs have taken since we arrived. It was too aggressive, and it made people question their leadership. It caused a fracture in the loyalty they had been building. The Farmers broke off, and more people joined the Freelancers. It took them days to recover, and they were weakened because of it. ¡°But, despite that, most of our coworkers still stayed loyal to them,¡± Calista said, disgusted at their former colleagues. ¡°Yes, they did, but we shouldn¡¯t blame them for staying. The CEOs are not idiots. They learned from their misstep and changed tactics. They took a more subtle approach. They reinforced a narrative that it was the Freelancer¡¯s fault we were attacked, so their people would have someone to blame.¡± ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s a lie,¡± Milly protested. ¡°Repeat a lie often enough, and people will believe it is true,¡± Rain said with a touch of sorrow. ¡°Especially if that lie has a nugget of truth within. It may not have been the Freelancers who did it, but it wasn¡¯t the CEOs either. It was us. If we hadn¡¯t completed the Arena of Choice, the God Contest wouldn¡¯t have moved into the second phase and the Event Timer mechanic wouldn¡¯t have been initiated. I don¡¯t feel any guilt about that, and neither should you, because we didn¡¯t know it would happen. But it did happen, and the CEOs are using that to their advantage.¡± ¡°Stone and Brass are out for themselves,¡± accused Calista. ¡°I can¡¯t believe our coworkers are dumb enough not to see that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about intelligence, Calista. It¡¯s about fear,¡± Rain explained. ¡°The CEO¡¯s approach is one that has been successful throughout history. Weaponizing a majority¡¯s fear and turning it towards a small minority, who are blamed and villainized.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re the minority,¡± concluded Milly, trying to keep her anger at bay so she didn¡¯t wake Passiflora. She gently rubbed the child¡¯s back as Passiflora muttered in her sleep. ¡°He cast me as a villain the moment he saw me in the lobby. The socially isolated and awkward goth girl ¨C an easy target.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Rain said softly. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what he did and continues to do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. We¡¯d all have a better chance of survival if we just worked together,¡± Calista surmised. ¡°Maybe, but unfortunately, the world doesn¡¯t work like that. My dad¡¯s hobby was history and politics,¡± Rain recalled softly. Milly could tell she missed her family terribly but had buried the feelings. ¡°We¡¯d get into these massive debates at Christmas, and by the end everyone was shouting at each other. Except for dad. He¡¯d be laughing his ass off, having the time of his life.¡± Rain stopped, and she gazed out the window with a forlorn look in her eye. She mimicked her father¡¯s deep rumble. ¡°The belief that a scared populous, during times of crisis ¨C even a perceived or manufactured crisis ¨C will set aside their differences and work together is complete horseshit. Scared people want someone to solve their problems for them, and that¡¯s where authoritarian regimes find their foothold.¡± Rain laughed weekly. ¡°Dad was a pessimist, but he wasn¡¯t wrong. He would go on to list governments all throughout history that followed this pattern. Inevitably, those governments would cast a minority of the population as villains ¨C people the majority should blame and fear. Nazi Germany was the classic example, but he could rattle off a dozen such governments. And it worked. The authoritarian would gain power, and the masses would love them for it. It still happens today. Dad always said to beware of any politician that told you to hate another person, as they were singing for an old, but very effective, songbook.¡± ¡°Well, if someone had just killed Hitler¡­¡± Calista said. ¡°People tried. Many people. Most of them died, and Hitler kept on going,¡± Rain answered. ¡°And Hitler didn¡¯t have a magical system that granted him extraordinary abilities. Even if killing Stone and Brass were advisable ¨C and I don¡¯t believe it is ¨C it is a big risk. We can¡¯t assume we¡¯re the strongest players in this contest. The CEOs also defeated an arena, so they could be just as strong ¨C or stronger ¨C than we are. Stone, in particular, has equipment or talents that are meant to counter Milly¡¯s magic, which gives them a big advantage.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true,¡± Calista said reluctantly. I want to believe we would win. But Rain¡¯s right. I don¡¯t know that. I took down the Carthage twins easily enough, but Stone absorbed my fog within seconds. He must be over level twenty ¨C but how much over? And what other tricks does he have up his sleeve? ¡°So let¡¯s go back to Frank,¡± said Rain, at the end of her lecture. ¡°Let¡¯s say we did manage to kill the CEOs. Where does that leave poor Frank and the other five hundred employees? They will have lost their safety and security ¨C their only real hope. They are left in a power vacuum. They won¡¯t follow Elmer or Alison, because killing the CEOs doesn¡¯t kill the narrative that us ¡®rebels¡¯ are to blame. In fact, if we killed the CEOs, it would reinforce that narrative and make it true.¡± Milly sat in silence, the weight of Rain¡¯s analysis pressing down upon her. Suddenly, their situation felt like a beartrap clamped around Milly¡¯s ankle, without a way to free herself from its grip. ¡°Best case scenario, chaos returns to the Castle, and how many would die in that chaos? Worst case¡­ they turn their anger on us, and we all tear ourselves apart. The Freelancers and the Farmers cannot hold off five hundred players, especially when the CEOs have been pushing them to level up in the wilds. Our Fairy friends would be killed too ¨C the monsters that the murderers brought to their door. It would be the end of us all. The end of the God Contest.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s it then?¡± Calista said dejected. ¡°Stone and Brass are untouchable, and all we can do is wait until they finally finish the job?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Rain said, with a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s still early days. The CEOs need their villains to keep order. They will scheme and vilify, but they won¡¯t outright attack us until they¡¯re convinced their positions are unassailable.¡± ¡°So, we play nice and wait until they are confident enough to stab us in the back?¡± Calista said, shifting awkwardly on the couch. ¡°That¡¯s part of it,¡± Rain said. ¡°Remember, our plan from the beginning was to help everyone survive. The more we help, the less effective the CEOs propaganda will be.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think being nice is going to stop them, Rain,¡± Calista said, doubtfully. ¡°No, not by itself it won¡¯t. We will fight back against the CEOs, but we need to do it guerilla warfare style,¡± Rain said slyly. ¡°Behind closed doors and out of sight, where they will struggle to counter it. We¡¯ll chip away at the empire they build, piece-by-piece, because the more time they spend holding onto that power, the less time they¡¯ll have to focus on building the power that really matters ¨C the power of the God Contest. The power we need to win this contest.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s something I can get behind,¡± Calista said, her mind already scheming ways of undermining the CEOs. ¡°And something I am good at. I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I know how to undermine a reputation. Many a bitch in high school learned that the hard way.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we should simply be pushovers though,¡± Milly added. ¡°I don¡¯t regret taking down the Carthage sisters, even if it was a setup by Stone and Brass. They were bullying Passi, and I¡¯m not going to let them treat anyone, especially the Fairies, like that. Ever.¡± Milly held up the printed notice. ¡°And I have no intention of showing up to this ¡®hearing¡¯ farce. I won¡¯t just be a pawn in their schemes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Stone and Brass expect you to show up, Mils,¡± Rain said insightfully. ¡°In fact, I bet they are counting on you not being there. Your absence reinforces their narrative that The Witch of the Castle of Glass refuses to be held accountable for her violence.¡± ¡°Well, that just makes me want to show up and shove their plans down their throats,¡± Milly said, irritated. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Mils,¡± laughed Rain. ¡°That¡¯s the undermining I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t even know what this ¡®Court¡¯ will look like,¡± Calista informed. ¡°Elmer and Alison are in negotiations with the CEOs on this now. I can¡¯t imagine they¡¯ll agree to something that gives away all their power.¡± ¡°No, but Alison is a seasoned bureaucrat,¡± considered Rain. ¡°She seems to be positioning the Farmers as a third party between the Freelancers and the CEOs. Neutral Switzerland, if you will. So we can¡¯t rely on her. She won¡¯t always side with Elmer, even if she and Elmer are having¡­ secret relations.¡± ¡°You know, if world leaders were secretly plowing each other, I would have paid attention more in history class,¡± Calista laughed, and the tension lifted from the room. ¡°Thankfully, this hearing is three days away, which gives us time to decide on the approach we want to take,¡± Rain said, as Anchovy hopped into her lap, having grown tired of his hunt. ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll hobble down to the Emporia and buy what I need for an alchemy and crafting workshop I want to set up along the northern wall. I may not be able to level up in the wilds yet, but that just gives me more time to create what we need.¡± Rain hesitated for a moment. ¡°I¡­ I also want to see Rain On My Parade. I miss it. I was finally starting to get some customers, though most came for my potions rather than my tea. Gabriel will need his heart medication, and Susan has her anxiety. If I can get it stocked up, Anchovy can mind the shop while I brew.¡± ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t think your first employee would be a cat,¡± chuckled Milly. ¡°It¡¯s not what I expected, but I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t have dreams like that,¡± Rain laughed. ¡°If you two are heading out to the wilds to level up, I¡¯ll give you a list of materials I need. With my Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty skill, I can mark their approximate locations on the map we bought from Tutoria.¡± They spent the next hour discussing their plan for the wilds and the types of items Rain would craft over the next three days. Milly and Calista transferred everything that resembled a crafting or alchemy item to Rain¡¯s inventory, including a ton of wolf fur, leather, teeth, and claws that had been added to their inventories without them noticing. Milly had piles of the same from the goblins she had defeated that morning as well. It turned out the auto-loot system had been harvesting materials from the creatures they defeated, which did not get added to their notifications. This was preferrable to Milly. She really didn¡¯t want to know when ¡®Goblin toenails¡¯ had been added to her inventory. Eventually, Rain fell asleep on the couch, and Calista carried her to her bedroom in the northeast corner. Anchovy followed close behind and curled against Rain¡¯s neck as Calista set her down on her bed. They were both snoring before Calista left the room. When she returned, Milly was clutching Passiflora tightly. Her eyes indecisively darted between their bedroom and the fairy child¡¯s room. ¡°She can sleep with us tonight, my love,¡± Calista said, leaning in and kissing her girlfriend on the cheek. ¡°After what happened today, Passi shouldn¡¯t wake up alone in a strange room. It¡¯ll take her a while to get used to living here. And, I suppose, we can go one night without ravishing each other.¡± ¡°Cally!¡± Milly whispered, embarrassed. A blush rose in her cheeks. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­ we haven¡¯t¡­ not every night¡­¡± Milly thought back on the week since they returned to the Castle of Glass, and her blush grew brighter. We have! Like rabbits! Oh my god¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll make it up later, I promise,¡± teased Calista, as she grabbed Passiflora¡¯s blue fish blanket from her room. ¡°Right now, this little one needs us. You know, this is definitely one of my stranger relationships. We went from coworkers to lovers to living together in two weeks, and a week after that we have a child in our home. I guess living in a death game tends to speed things up.¡± ¡°You mean this isn¡¯t the strangest relationship you¡¯ve had, despite all that has happened? Should I even ask how many other relationships you¡¯ve been in?¡± Milly asked. Why am I more anxious about her answer to that than everything involving Stone and Brass? ¡°Only if you can handle it, my love,¡± Calista laughed with a wink. ¡°I wasn¡¯t a nun before I met you. Or after I met you, though you¡¯ve learned that first hand.¡± Calista blew Milly a Hollywood-style kiss and headed for their bedroom, exaggerating the sway of her hips playfully. I¡¯ll¡­ have her tell me later. In the wilds, when we have more time. I¡¯m not avoiding the answer. I¡¯ve got to get this little one to bed, right? Milly carried Passiflora to their room and laid her in the middle of their bed. She tucked her in with her blue fish blanket, careful not to hurt her wings. I wonder what its like to be tucked in like that? I missed out on so much. Passi, I won¡¯t let all the horrible things that have happened to you ruin your childhood like mine was. I promise. A few minutes later, their little, unconventional family was fast asleep. Despite the fight with the Carthage sisters and the threats the CEOs posed, Milly did not feel scared about what lay ahead. She felt brave. Defiant. Strong. Because she had a family worth fighting for. Chapter 75 - Minerva "There is no charm equal to tenderness of the heart." Jane Austen, British Writer ¡°Eye of the Manifold Toad ¨C that¡¯s five miles south of the Jungle Spire waypoint,¡± Milly read off Rain¡¯s list as they left Rain On My Parade. She ignored the frightened whispers from the other players as they passed by. ¡°Firebush thorns. Cobra chicken venom. This one just says coffee beans.¡± ¡°Someone stole the last of her coffee beans while we were away,¡± Calista chuckled. ¡°They left everything else untouched, except for the damn beans. Even her Dark Introspection tea. That¡¯s what she was most upset about.¡± ¡°Rain¡¯s right to be upset. Her tea is amazing. Some people have no class,¡± Milly agreed as they arrived at the mission board. A slim woman in her mid-thirties, with short-cut blond hair and a black skirt worn thin from use was the only other player there. The woman¡¯s knees trembled as she stared uncomprehendingly at the mission board. She was one of the few players who had yet to leave the tower since their arrival. The woman squeaked in terror, her eyes wide, when she finally tore her gaze from the mission board and saw The Witch and The Huntress standing at her side. ¡°Good morning,¡± Calista said chipperly and gave the woman a broad smile. ¡°¡­ goodmorningma¡¯am¡­¡± the woman replied rapidly after a shocked pause, as if the words had gotten stuck in her throat then shot out all at once. Ma¡¯am? That feels weird. She must be twice my age. ¡°Your first time outside the Castle?¡± Milly inquired kindly. ¡°We all went through it. I¡¯m Milly. This is Cally.¡± ¡°M¡­ Minerva¡­,¡± the woman replied reluctantly. Her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I¡­ I know who you are. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m not supposed to talk to you¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Milly answered. ¡°But we¡¯re not as bad as all that.¡± Milly withdrew a handful of goblin loincloths and held them up to the mission board. The stench wafted around them, and Minerva gagged. The loincloths disappeared and a small sack of coins appeared in Milly¡¯s palm. The loincloth mission notification, which Milly had gotten before, appeared in front of them.
Mission: The Goblin¡¯s Wardrobe Lunky, The Goblin Prince, is assembling a new wardrobe to inspire his people. He seeks only the finest and smelliest of loincloths for his collection. Victory Condition: Collect 10 Soiled Goblin Loincloths Reward: 50 gold
¡°I started in the prairies on my first day,¡± Milly told the terrified woman. ¡°My friend and I focused on battling goblins. Cally began on the beach, hunting boar. Well, after she helped take down an ogre.¡± Milly handed the sack of coins to the woman. It dangled from her fingers like a lifeline. ¡°You¡¯ll want to go out there as part of a group, especially in the beginning. Do you have anyone to go with?¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Yes¡­ um¡­ yes, ma¡¯am. My two friends. We¡¯re all from EnergyWave. Clerical staff. We were told to¡­ to get out of the Tower and start leveling up, or they wouldn¡¯t bring us food anymore,¡± Minerva stuttered. She hesitated for a moment, then tentatively grabbed the sack of coins from Milly¡¯s hand. ¡°I guess¡­ I guess we can¡¯t pretend we¡¯ll be rescued anymore.¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Calista said with certainty. ¡°We¡¯re stuck here. Will this be your friends¡¯ first time out of the tower too? Minerva nodded, the coin sack clutched tightly in her hand. Milly opened her inventory and withdrew three Pitiful Grock¡¯s rings, three goblin vests, and three goblin spears and handed them to the woman. ¡°Here. You shouldn¡¯t be out there without proper equipment. You can have these to get yourself started. This equipment isn¡¯t great, but it¡¯ll be enough to give you a big advantage against a small goblin pack.¡± Milly withdrew the rest of her goblin loincloths, turned them in, and handed the sacks of gold to Minerva one-by-one. ¡°The Emporia sells Waypoint Crystals. It¡¯s early in the day, so there should be some still available. You still need to wake up early to snag them, until you build up a little stockpile. If you get into trouble out there, use the crystal to come home.¡± ¡°Thank¡­ thank you,¡± Minerva said in utter disbelief. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this from you. From¡­ from anyone.¡± ¡°Does Shufflebottom not supply beginner equipment to his people just starting out?¡± Milly asked, exaggerating her words so it sounded like a surprise. Minerva shook her head. ¡°Umm... no. We were mostly ignored until today. Shufflebottom told us this morning that we needed to get out of the tower. We¡­ wouldn¡¯t be allowed to be freeloader anymore.¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s odd,¡± Milly commented. ¡°The Freelancers have a pile of communal equipment for new players, and they always have someone guide to guide new players on their first time out. I think the Farmers do the same.¡± Milly spotted Tyrell, one of Ying¡¯s healer, in the Emporia. ¡°Maybe we can help you out. Hey, Tyrell!¡± Milly shouted at the healer, waving him over. ¡°Oh, hey Milly. How¡¯s Rain holding up?¡± asked Tyrell in his deep baritone. ¡°She¡¯s good. Say, Tyrell, what are you up to this morning?¡± ¡°Just heading out,¡± the middle-aged man responded, staring curiously at the young woman clutching the goblin vests and spears. ¡°It¡¯s my day off from the clinic, and I want to hit level ten. I¡¯ve got my eye on this optometrist talent, you see. There have been a ton of players whose glasses were destroyed while fighting, so they¡¯re walking around half-blind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty clever, Tyrell,¡± praised Calista. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought about that.¡± ¡°As far as I can tell, no one has,¡± beamed Tyrell. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to be an optometrist since I was a little kid. I had the grades, but I was too poor to go to school. Then I had my two kids, and a messy divorce, and before you knew it, that dream had faded away. But now I get a chance to follow it, even if it¡¯s not quite in the way I had expected.¡± ¡°Say, Tyrell,¡± Milly pondered in a half-whisper. ¡°My friend Minerva here is heading into the wilds for the first time today with two of her coworkers. Do you think you could go with them, at least until they get their first few levels?¡± Minerva squeaked as she looked at the broad-shouldered healer. ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind,¡± Tyrell shrugged. ¡°I was planning on grinding out goblins anyways.¡± Milly did not know what ¡®grinding out goblins¡¯ meant ¨C it sounded like something Xavier would say ¨C but she got the general idea. ¡°Thanks Tyrell,¡± Milly said gratefully, then turned back to Minerva. ¡°Just start small ¨C lone goblins or groups of two ¨C and work your way up from there. It won¡¯t take too many levels before the goblins don¡¯t pose much of a threat, but don¡¯t push too hard, too fast, okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Minerva promised. ¡°Thank you, Milly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Milly smiled, as put a finger to her mouth as if to impart a secret to the woman. ¡°Just don¡¯t tell Shufflebottom I helped you, alright? I¡¯m supposed to be this evil, dangerous woman, and I¡¯d hate for him to be disappointed.¡± Calista snorted, failing to hold in her laugh. ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Minerva promised, as her friends waved her over. Tyrell followed behind. Minerva¡¯s two friends ¨C a gangly young man with thick glasses and a woman in his mid-sixties who leaned heavily on a cane ¨C whispered frantically to her as she arrived. Milly heard a little of their conversation before they all headed into the Emporia. ¡°¡­ you already. The witch¡­ dangerous¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s nice¡­ gave us this stuff¡­ the stories can¡¯t be true¡­¡± ¡°Shufflebottom¡­ grouchy old¡­ wouldn¡¯t put it past him¡­¡± ¡°That was some quality helping, my love,¡± Calista praised as they headed out the south exit towards the waypoint pillar. ¡°With a lovely dose of CEO undermining to top it off. Couldn¡¯t have done it better myself.¡± ¡°High praise coming from the queen bitch of high school,¡± laughed Milly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will make a difference, but at least we¡¯ve helped those three survive.¡± ¡°Death by a thousand cuts,¡± Calista smiled. ¡°And you just made the first cut.¡± Chapter 76 - Of Geese and Toads "The world is a crazy, beautiful, ugly complicated place, and it keeps moving on from crisis to strangeness to beauty to weirdness to tragedy." David Remnick, American Journalist
Monster: Cobra Chicken Type: Bastard Bird Habitat: Prairie Lakes Immunities: Water, Air Resistances: Fire The Cobra Chicken is a fearsome beast that resides at the edge of prairie lakes. Carrying itself with excessive and indefensible confidence, the Cobra Chicken lives its life hating everyone and everything that comes within twenty feet of it, save for more of its kind. The massive bird is resistant to most types of elemental magic, and its thick layer of feathers serves to shield it from all but the strongest attacks. The bane of the prairies, its liquid poop makes the ground slick and foul. There is no avoiding it. It gets everywhere.
¡°Honk!¡± The truck-sized Canada goose¡¯s long, black neck struck forward like a cobra. Calista dodged to the side with her defensive footwork and stuck her spear square into the bird¡¯s chest. The goose¡¯s wide, flat bill shattered through the trunk of a poplar tree at the edge of the prairie lake, causing it to crash to the ground. The goose hissed its displeasure as Calista¡¯s spear struck, but it didn¡¯t pierce deep enough to get past its feathery layer of protection. It extended its brown and white wings and flapped vigorously, its deep, angry honks carrying across the water. Caught in its gust, Calista was sent flying backward into the lake. ¡°Fuck! Milly, a little help here,¡± Calista shouted as she spat a mouthful of fetid lake water from her mouth. ¡°Gods, the water is full of goose crap. It¡¯s floating on the top, and it itches so bad!¡± Calista¡¯s limbs began to break out in hives, and she started to frantically scratch while she treaded water. ¡°From above, Cally!¡± shouted Milly, intertwining her hands. The water beneath Calista began to roil, and suddenly a pillar of water launched her twenty feet into the air. She recalled her spear and activated Talaria of Mercury for a few seconds of flight, headed for the goose. Milly hurled balls of fire at the goose¡¯s head as Calista zoomed through the air over the creature¡¯s back. Calista¡¯s Companion of Artemis talent had shown them the beast was immune to water and air and resistant to fire, which is why Calista had taken the lead, but Milly had discovered bursts of flame, while dealing little damage, did create a distraction that kept the bird from looking skyward and momentarily blinded it. As Calista caught her spear and deactivated her flight directly over the goose¡¯s back, Milly pressed her hands to the ground and encased the goose¡¯s webbed feet in a coffin of earth. It honked in rage as it tried to free itself, successfully tearing one leg free before Calista landed. Calista thrust her spear into the soft flesh at the base of the bird¡¯s neck and severed its spine. The beast¡¯s final hiss sounded like a leaking tire as it collapsed to the ground, dead. Calista slid down its back and landed in a pile of goose poop, nearly slipping on the slickness. ¡°Eww¡­ gross, gross, gross,¡± Calista moaned, as she tried to simultaneously scratch and scrape off the thick, green excretion. ¡°Please tell me we got it this time.¡± Milly laughed at her girlfriend¡¯s attempts to dislodge the foul-smelling liquid. She directed a stream of water at Calista¡¯s feet to wash them, leaving no trace of its foulness on her sparkling skin. She sucked out the water in Calista¡¯s clothes to dry her out as she used healer¡¯s touch to deal with Calista¡¯s hives. ¡°Thanks, honey. You¡¯re a full-service doctor and laundromat,¡± Calista chuckled. Milly opened her inventory and frowned. ¡°No Cobra Chicken venom, Cally. Just a bunch of feathers and eggs like last time.¡± ¡°Gods damn it¡­,¡± Calista moaned. She opened her inventory and walked forward until the screen touched the goose. Its massive corpse disappeared, added to her inventory. ¡°At least Billy will have something other than boar and mushrooms to cook. All these geese will keep the Castle of Glass fed for a week. All courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood Witch and Huntress.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had goose. Is it any good?¡± ¡°It can be, if it¡¯s cooked right,¡± Calista said definitively. ¡°Kinda like roast beef. I¡¯m sure Billy can figure it out with that spatula of his.¡± ¡°Well, do we keep going?¡± Milly asked, staring across the lake towards the next goose. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving here without that venom,¡± Calista declared, her fiery eyes fixed on the closest one. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
Congratulations! You have defeated Cobra Chicken Flock. You have been awarded 5,000 experience points. Items: Cobra Chicken Venom x 1 (rare), Parasitic Poop x 3 (uncommon), Bill x 5 (common), Feathers x 15 (common), Goose Eggs x 25 (common) Gold: 1,000 (+200 from Enhanced Scrounging)
* * *
Monster: Manifold Toad Type: Atypical Amphibian Habitat: Jungle Mudholes Immunities: Poison Resistances: Earth The Manifold Toad is a knot unto itself. It may seem like easy prey, but with hallucinogenic excretion and a stinging tongue, the Manifold Toad has a diverse array of defenses that become increasingly dangerous the longer a fight goes on. While not life threatening, the hallucinogenic properties of the Manifold Toads excretion will cause temporary intoxication that can render its target helpless.
The sweltering jungle heat was oppressive as Milly and Calista crouched in the ferns alongside the jungle river, watching the boar-sized toad half-buried in a nearby mudhole. The thick, bumpy skin of the toad was dry as leather, except for the twin pustules along its back that released a the hallucinogenic white foam. Across the mudhole, a chimpanzee sat on a rock and clutched a much smaller toad in its hand. Milly gagged as the animal took a long, slow lick along the toad¡¯s back. Eyes growing hazy, the chimpanzee fell backwards off the rock and splashed into the mud, its body twitching with pleasure. The small frog squirmed out of the monkey¡¯s grip and hopped back into the mud, unharmed. ¡°Want to give it a lick?¡± Calista chucked softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be gross, Cally,¡± Milly replied, her face coiled in disgust. ¡°Well, the chimp seems to be having a good time,¡± Calista laughed, until an eagle with a twenty-foot wingspan and claws as long as Milly¡¯s forearm dove from the canopy and snagged the chimpanzee in its grasp. It soared back into the air and carried the chimpanzee away. The chimpanzee was so high on the hallucinogen that it didn¡¯t realize what had happened, and all Milly heard as the eagle flew away was the primate¡¯s screech of joy as it soared over the jungle, its intestines hanging out, destined to be dinner. ¡°Well, this jungle is horrible,¡± Milly said after the eagle was out of sight. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with an equally sweaty hand. ¡°I¡¯m drenched in sweat, there are bugs everywhere, and apparently we have to keep an eye on the sky for death birds.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You should¡¯ve zapped that bird when it went for the chimp,¡± Calista advised. ¡°Probably some good crafting material on a bird that size.¡± ¡°Maybe you should¡¯ve thrown your god damned spear, Calista,¡± Milly snapped, louder than she intended. The Manifold Toad¡¯s eyes shifted towards them, their cover blown, but it remained lazily resting in the mud. Calista gave Milly a disapproving glare. ¡°Sorry¡­,¡± mumbled Milly apologetically. ¡°I don¡¯t like the heat. The sweat causes my clothing to stick to my skin, and I can feel it cling to my fat. I hate it. It makes me feel ugly and gross.¡± ¡°Funny, I rather like your gown sticking tightly to you. I can see all your delicious curves,¡± Calista purred, her eyes lingering on Milly¡¯s breasts and hips. ¡°Cally!¡± Milly said with mock protest. ¡°Don¡¯t we have a toad to hunt?¡± ¡°Yah, I guess so,¡± Calista replied. She activated their Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector shields. ¡°Spear or magic?¡± ¡°Magic. It¡¯s not resistant to fire or air, so my lightning should work on it. Ready?¡± Calista nodded. Milly jumped up and slammed her hands together, and her lightning struck the toad on the side of its head. Its eyes bulged as electricity coursed through its body, and it exploded into a shower of toady guts. ¡°Fuck!¡± Calista shouted, as she extended her light shield over them like an umbrella. Milly heard the splatter of flesh bouncing off the shield and into the river behind them. Ravenous, foot-long piranhas swarmed the chunks and devoured them in moments. ¡°Well, that was something,¡± Calista laughed as she let the shield fall. ¡°Cally, did you get a notification?¡± ¡°No, why?¡± Milly peered over the ferns and groaned. Two Manifold Toads, each half the size as the first, lay half-buried where the original had once been. Their angry eyes stared at the two players as they began to squirm free of the mud. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not¡­¡± Calista started, as the two toads sprang forward impossibly fast, their ten-foot stinging tongues extended towards them. Pop. Pop. The tongues struck Milly and Calista¡¯s one-shot personal shields before they could dodge, but the impact caused the toads to recoil in surprise. Calista hurled her spear as Milly unleased a second lightning bolt point-blank. This time, when the two toads exploded, Milly and Calista were too close to shield themselves from the splatter. It covered their chests in green and brown ichor. A piece of foam-covered skin flew into Milly¡¯s open mouth. She spit it out as she tried not to vomit. It tasted like the goose poop had smelled. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me there are four toads now,¡± Milly begged. Her world began to spin, and a misty haze settled at the edge of her vision. ¡°There are,¡± said four identical toads croak. She looked towards the speaker and saw its skin shimmering fluorescent pink and purple. ¡°You done fucked up, witch.¡± ¡°Cally¡­¡± Milly whispered uncertainly, her thoughts floating like clouds in her mind, untethered to solid structure. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when they talk. Do you think Twotongue will be mad at us? They could be related. I don¡¯t want to make Twotongue an orphan!¡± ¡°Milly, what are you¡­ oh, honey,¡± Calista replied, seeing the hallucinogenic white foam on Milly¡¯s lips and her dilated pupils. The four toads, each now the size of a housecat, leapt towards the girls with stinging tongues extended. Calista whirled her spear quickly, popping three of the toads in mid-air before the tongue of the fourth struck her elbow. Calista shrieked as pain travelled from her elbow to her hand. It felt like the sting from a hundred bees and she lost her grip on her spear. Its tongue struck again as the toad landed at her feet, striking her knee, and Calista felt her leg buckle. Six toads, each the size of a Guinea pig, joined the last remaining housecat-sized toad and stared at Calista with their angry, beady eyes. She raised her light shield just before the tongues shot forth. Her shield began to splinter and crack as each tongue struck in quick succession, her magic draining quickly. ¡°Milly! I need your help! Snap out of it!¡± Calista shouted desperately. ¡°It¡¯s so hot in the jungle. Aren¡¯t you hot?¡± Milly panted as she began to undo the ties at the back of her dress. Calista had an idea. ¡°Yes, honey. It¡¯s incredibly hot. You can cool us down, right?¡± ¡°Cooooool?¡± Milly slurred, enjoying the way the word made her lips pucker as she slipped her dress off her shoulder. ¡°I can make it cool¡­¡± ¡°Yes, as cold as you can!¡± Milly thrust her arm into the air with an exaggerated motion and channeled water and air. A wave of chilled air erupted from her palm and blasted both players and toads with instant sub-zero temperatures. The humidity in the air turned to snow, and mud froze beneath their feet. Calista felt relief in her limbs as the cool air dulled her stings, but within a few seconds she felt a tingling numbness in her fingers as the chill accelerated. She gazed over at the toads, which had frozen in place from the rapid temperature change. ¡°That¡¯s enough, honey,¡± Calista said through chattering teeth. Milly ceased her magic. A thirty-foot radius around the witch was blanketed in a thin layer of frost and snow. The mud was frozen solid, as were the ferns around them. A thin shard of ice floated down the river, a wiggling piranha sticking out of its frozen surface. The cold would not last long. Calista could already feel the heat of the jungle driving away the frost, and the snow at the edge of the frozen circle was beginning to melt. She forced herself to her feet and prepared to shatter the toads one-by-one. She stopped an inch before her first blow fell as she had another thought. She opened her inventory and carefully ¨C very carefully ¨C pried the toad¡¯s feet out of the frozen mud and lifted it with the end of her spear. She tipped it into her inventory screen, and it vanished.
Manifold Toad (frozen, dormant) acquired.
¡°Yes!¡± Calista said victoriously, as she scooped each of the six remaining toads into her inventory one-by-one. ¡°Maybe we can farm these little guys?¡± ¡°Cally, I¡¯m still warm. I hate this jungle!¡± whined Milly. Calista looked over and saw her girlfriend with three inches of snow piled on her hair, her gown pulled down to her waist. ¡°The toads were mean to me, and that hawk is giving me the funny business.¡± Calista nearly snorted with laughter, until she saw the massive eagle plummeting straight for the hallucinating Milly. She dashed across the frozen mud, her Talaria of Mercury allowing her to cover the short distance in a flash. She erected her shield just in time for the eagle to slam into it. The shield shattered from the blow, Calista¡¯s magic depleted, and there was a resounding crack. The eagle collapsed to the ground, its neck broken. Calista skewered it through the heart to end its suffering. ¡°Luna¡­ I don¡¯t like this feeling,¡± Milly slurred. ¡°This is a stupid game mechanic thingy. You need to get rid of it¡­ I¡­ uck¡­¡± Milly lurched and vomited into the thawing mud. Calista rushed to her girlfriend¡¯s side and held her hair back as the hallucinogen worked its way out of her system. ¡°Who the heck is Luna?¡± Calista wondered as she gently rubbed her girlfriend¡¯s back and waited for her heaves to cease.
Congratulations! You have captured a Manifest Toad family. You have been awarded 3,000 experience points. Milly Brown has increased to Level 27. Two attribute points acquired. Calista Gale has increased to Level 26. Two attribute points and one class talent point acquired. Items: Eye of the Manifest Toad x1 (rare), Manifest Toad extract x2 (uncommon), Tiny Manifest Toad x6 (frozen, common), Small Manifest Toad x1 (frozen, common) Gold: 500 (+100 from Enhanced Scrounging)
Congratulations! You have defeated Eviscerating Eagle You have been awarded 300 experience points. Items: Eagle beak x1 (uncommon), Eagle claw x1 (common) Gold: 100 (+20 from Enhanced Scrounging)
* * * ¡°Not one word to Rain, Cally. Not. One. Word,¡± warned Milly as they arrived back at the Castle of Glass, the sun setting in the west. The smell of roast boar wafted from Billy¡¯s BBQ, causing Milly¡¯s stomach to churn uncomfortably. She was in no mood for food. ¡°No promises, honey,¡± Calista said, as she added her two points to her magic attribute and upgraded her Battlefield Communication talent to advanced level. The advancement increased the range of telepathic communication with Calista¡¯s captains ¨C Rain and Milly ¨C from three miles to three hundred miles, which effectively gave them the ability to stay in constant touch for the immediate future. ¡°Hey Rain, we got you the venom and the eyes,¡± Calista mentally projected to Rain. ¡°And, surprisingly, a load of coffee beans. They were growing on the trees around the toads. No Firebush thorns though. We¡¯ll head to the mountains tomorrow for those.¡± ¡°Woah, this telepathy feels strange. It¡¯s like you¡¯re in my head,¡± replied Rain curiously. ¡°It¡¯s really distracting. Are you two okay?¡± ¡°It gets weirder the further we get away from the Castle of Glass, but it wasn¡¯t anything we couldn¡¯t manage. Though Milly went on a little¡­ trip¡­ during our last fight.¡± ¡°Cally!¡± Milly protested. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault, Rain. That stupid toad blew up and I started hallucinating. My Incorruptible talent was supposed to protect me from stuff like that.¡± ¡°I think it prevents your mind from being controlled, Mils,¡± Rain responded. ¡°This sounds more like you were on drugs. It¡¯s good you know there is a difference now. It won¡¯t be the last time we encounter something like this.¡± ¡°Drugs?¡± Milly slumped. ¡°I didn¡¯t think about it like that. That¡¯s worse.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be up soon, Rain,¡± Calista said, then ended their connection. She turned to Milly, anticipating the emotions that were stirring inside her. She knew the look on her girlfriend¡¯s face ¨C it mirrored the one she had when the bottle of scotch had been passed around the grieving Freelancers. ¡°Honey, you weren¡¯t drunk or on drugs. It¡¯s just a stupid mechanic in this stupid game.¡± ¡°Yah, I know,¡± Milly replied as she took strength from Calista¡¯s hand in hers, though she had a hard time shaking off the dark memories that intruded in her thoughts. ¡°But it still feels wrong.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s go see what Rain has made for us while we were away,¡± Calista said chipperly to distract Milly. ¡°It¡¯s like retail therapy, but everything is custom built for us!¡± As they waited for the elevator, Tyrell, Minerva, and her companions wandered into the lobby through the prairie entrance. Their goblin vests were spackled with blood, but they were healthy and in good spirits. Their exuberant laughter trickled across the lobby. It was laughter that spoke of the potential they could achieve if they were brave, and held within a promise to return to the wilds once again. Minerva waved enthusiastically at Milly as they stepped into the elevator. Milly waved back, the warmth of the gesture helping to drive away the darkness. She¡¯d helped people survive today, and it felt like a missing piece of her time here clicked into place. Despite the schemes of the CEOs, she knew that her coworkers ¨C her fellow players ¨C were just trying to survive. They would all be here for years ¨C if they ever left at all ¨C and there was a long road ahead. A road they had to travel together if they wanted to survive. Chapter 77 - A Simple Meal with Friends "Meals make the society, hold the fabric together in lots of ways that were charming and interesting and intoxicating to me. The perfect meal, or the best meals, occur in a context that frequently has very little to do with the food itself." Anthony Bourdain, Chef The first thing Milly and Calista saw when they stepped out of the elevator was the mess in their living room. Piles of mismatched shirts, shoes, jeans, skirts, hats, and men and women¡¯s underwear were tossed haphazardly across their couch and coffee table. Next to the table was a box full of assorted trinkets, from glass balls to salt and pepper shakers to a simple, fist-sized rock. The collection resembled an impulse buyer¡¯s trip to the neighborhood garage sale. The air was filled with the scent of brewing potions emanating from the northern wall on the opposite side of the floor. ¡°Rain?¡± Milly called curiously. ¡°Over here,¡± Rain called, as the sound of clinking glass cut across their floor. Half a dozen cauldrons bubbled on three separate alchemy tables placed against the northern window. Each cauldron contained a brew that Rain had been working on all afternoon. Her Beginner¡¯s Guide to Alchemy was cracked open on a splintered wooden lectern, its color faded with age, the first of its once-blank pages now filled with sketches and modifications to the potion knowledge in Rain¡¯s mind. On a fourth side table, two dozen bottled potions of various sizes and colors were cooling - future stock for Rain On My Parade. ¡°Here, this one is for you, Mils,¡± Rain said as she handed Milly a small vial of yellow-brown liquid. ¡°What is it?¡± Milly asked as she raised it to the light. It sparkled. ¡°It¡¯s for your depression,¡± Rain explained. ¡°This potion does, more or less, the same thing as your antidepressant medication back home.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been fine. I mean, mostly,¡± protested Milly. ¡°I was weaning myself off my medication anyways.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been running on adrenaline and fighting for your life since you got here, Mils. Now, I¡¯m a barista, not a doctor, but I don¡¯t think you can decide that you¡¯ve been fine with all that''s happened to us. You definitely aren¡¯t in a state to know if you are recovered from your depression.¡± Rain advised. ¡°I needed to brew a batch of this anyways. You aren¡¯t the only one that was on antidepressants back home. I had four others approach me before we left about brewing something for them.¡± ¡°Rain¡­¡± ¡°Mils, my brother was on antidepressants for years. When the doctor finally began to ween him off his medication, it took months. A small reduction each time, so his body could get used to it and to minimize the chance his depression would return. Even then, it was hard for him,¡± Rain lectured her. ¡°Unlike him, you¡¯ve been forced to go cold turkey. That¡¯s not healthy, especially in our circumstances. I can¡¯t force you to take it, but I think you should.¡± ¡°I¡­ thanks Rain. I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Milly said as she added the vial to her inventory. ¡°It¡¯s a half teaspoon once per day,¡± Rain instructed, speaking now to both Milly and Calista. ¡°And every second morning when you want to ween yourself off it.¡± Rain hobbled over to the side table on her crutch and snatched a few more vials. ¡°Now, for something more fun,¡± Rain beamed. She handed them each three vials ¨C one bright red, another forest green, and a third shimmering blue. Milly recognized the latter as a magic replenishment potion. ¡°The red is a weak healing potion,¡± said Rain. ¡°It¡¯s nothing compared to Healer¡¯s Touch, but it¡¯s useful in a pinch for low level players. I made it to sell at Rain On My Parade but take one for yourselves. Never know when it will come in handy.¡± ¡°Sell?¡± asked Calista. ¡°You expanding your business, Rain?¡± ¡°Teas, Coffee, and Potions,¡± Rain chuckled excitedly. ¡°In that order. I don¡¯t care what world we are in or what challenges we face. I¡¯m not going to let this contest rob me of my dream. I am a barista first, player second. Besides, I need to get people their morning caffeine, or we¡¯re going to have a lot of grumpy players. And what better way to earn people¡¯s trust?¡± Rain held up the green potion. ¡°This counters simple poisons, like the one I use in my dagger. And the blue is magic recovery, like I gave you at the battle. I made one for each of us. I¡¯ll make these potions available in the shop for a price, but I¡¯ll keep medications like Gabriel¡¯s heart and Susan¡¯s anxiety meds free of charge. I don¡¯t think I could live with myself if they couldn¡¯t afford it.¡± ¡°The potions are great, Rain,¡± Calista said, remembering their living room. ¡°But what¡¯s with the exploded wardrobe?¡± ¡°Practice,¡± replied Rain excitedly, leaving the potions behind and leading them into the living room. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking on how my creation talent works while you have been away. I have some of the basics figured out. The combination of Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ and Creativity of Hephaestus from my necklace lets me craft in two ways. First, I can enchant an existing item using talents that one of the three of us possess. The stronger the talent, the more magic it costs. The same is true if I want to imbue more than one talent on a single item. The more talents I add, the higher the cost, and that cost is exponential.¡± ¡°So you could, say¡­¡± Calista said as she walked over to the coffee table and held up a lime green T-shirt embroidered with the Statue of Liberty. She made a disgusted face at its hidiousness. ¡°Enchant this¡­ thing¡­ with Milly¡¯s fire magic and make it fireproof?¡± ¡°Well, at my level, more likely just a bit fire resistant,¡± Rain answered after careful consideration. ¡°But when I get strong enough, then yes, that¡¯s possible.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Well, that¡¯s cool, but you shouldn¡¯t do that, at least to this shirt,¡± clarified Calista. ¡°I don¡¯t support any action that would prevent this abomination from being burned in a fire.¡± Milly laughed. ¡°What¡¯s the second way, Rain?¡± ¡°The second way you¡¯ve already seen. I can take raw materials, like iron ore or leather, and make custom items of any design, such as I did with Calista¡¯s dress or my tailcoat. The rarer the materials, the better the item and the easier it is to imbue it with higher-level enchantments. The downside is it consumes a lot of magic and resources. Even with the class boost to my magic attribute, I¡¯ll need a great deal more to create truly powerful items. Especially if I use Blank Canvas to break the normal crafting rules.¡± ¡°Okay, but why the¡­ rather eclectic wardrobe?¡± Calista asked cautiously. ¡°Why not just buy a dozen identical black hoodies for Milly?¡± ¡°Cally, that¡¯s the sexiest thing you¡¯ve ever said,¡± cooed Milly. Calista winked at her playfully. Rain shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s more fun this way. Plus, Tutoria¡¯s collection wasn¡¯t exactly inclined to normality. Well, do you want to get started?¡± Milly¡¯s stomach growled. ¡°Can it wait until after supper? I think my appetite just came back.¡± ¡°Oh, speaking of losing your appetite,¡± Calista said, opening her inventory and lobbing Rain¡¯s share of Gorath¡¯s fingers and the Fairy Killer Roast over to her. ¡°Here. Eat up.¡± ¡°Thanks Calista,¡± Rain said, popping Gorath¡¯s finger into her mouth without a second thought. Milly lost her appetite again as Rain spit the bones into her palm and added them to her inventory for future crafting. * * * After picking Passiflora up from the medical clinic, the child chattering excitedly about her day, their unconventional family headed down to Billy¡¯s Barbecue for supper. They snagged one of the tables beside the grill before the crowd of players descended on the restaurant. By the time Billy served them the usual boar and mushroom fare, every table was occupied, and it was standing room only. A line of hungry players stretched forty deep along the beach, exhausted from their work at the Castle of Glass or from exploring the wilds. It was the first supper they had spent around other players since they had returned to the Castle of Glass. Gossip and whispers reverberated amongst the CEO-aligned players, targeted at the girls and the fairy child they had brought into their midst. It continued until Billy finally shouted that anyone who didn¡¯t like it would be banned from his restaurant, and they could fix their own damned supper from now on. The whispers instantly stopped, and the pleasant rumble of regular conversation soon replaced it. ¡°Everyone is a critic until their food is on the line,¡± Calista derided. ¡°Yah, and thankfully Billy knows it,¡± commented Milly, as she rubbed Passiflora¡¯s back. The child had tried to shove three mushrooms in her mouth all at once and nearly choked. ¡°Slow down, Passi. Your food isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡± ¡°So hungry,¡± Passiflora responded as she struggled to chew the mouthful. ¡°Ying is a worse taskmaster than grandpa was. I haven¡¯t eaten all day.¡± It was the first time Milly had heard Passiflora mention a member of her family. Maybe she is starting to heal, if only a little bit. ¡°I hear that, Passiflora,¡± said Billy. ¡°You should see what¡¯s she¡¯s like at home. A real ball buster.¡± ¡°Billy!¡± Milly scolded, covering Passiflora¡¯s ears with her hands. ¡°Language.¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Billy said. ¡°Not used to having kids around.¡± Passiflora waved Milly¡¯s hands away with a child¡¯s impatience. She looked Billy square in the eyes. ¡°What¡¯s a ball buster?¡± Billy¡¯s moved his mouth like a fish, but no words came out. Milly nearly choked on her roasted boar as she suppressed her laughter. ¡°Hey Billy, got a surprise for you,¡± Calista called, saving their chef from having to stammer out an answer. ¡°What¡¯s that, Cal¡­ oh my god!¡± Billy said in surprise as Calista retrieved one of the truck-sized geese from her inventory. It crashed into the sand with a meaty thump next to the grill that caused every table in the small restaurant to rattle. ¡°A little variety for our diets!¡± Calista declared, as much to the crowd as to Billy. ¡°We¡¯ve got eleven more where that came from. You¡¯ve never had true cuisine until you¡¯ve tried roasted goose.¡± Murmurs of excitement quickly spread through the crowd from both ally and CEO-aligned players. A few cheers rose up from the back of the restaurant to celebrate this new addition to their rather limited culinary options. Milly¡¯s eyes scanned the crowd and tried to memorize the faces of those who cheered. Potential allies? Or maybe just people willing to trust their own eyes instead of taking the CEOs at their word. She¡¯d counted half a dozen supporters before her gaze fell on Cosmo Shufflebottom, the CEO of EnergyWave. Milly hadn¡¯t seen him arrive, and her hands grew clammy with nervousness. He stood beside his newly constructed performance stage, calmly chatting with his band, The Radicals, as they prepared for evening¡¯s performance. The CEO, still dressed in his jester costume, met Milly¡¯s gaze. Milly¡¯s heart began to beat wildly. Her left hand fell on Passiflora¡¯s arm, ready to grab the child and run if Shufflebottom attacked, while she ignited a flame in the palm of her right hand, its light hidden beneath the picnic table. Shufflebottom just tipped his jester hat in her direction. His eyes flickered briefly to Passiflora before he returned to his band. Milly let her flame fade away, though her heart would not calm so easily. ¡°He¡¯s a strange man,¡± Billy said, following her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I will ever trust him, but he does keep the crowd happy. His band gets better every day.¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t been attending the faction meetings with Stone and Brass,¡± Calista whispered as they huddled together. ¡°Remember the negotiations on the beach when we first got back? The only thing he was interested in was Lightpaw. He spent the rest of the time staring into space.¡± ¡°Was he involved in what Stone and Brass did at the Battle of Tower Beach?¡± Milly asked. She didn¡¯t recall seeing the CEO in the lobby on that horrible day. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Calista responded. They¡¯d spent so much time focused on Stone and Brass, that the strange behavior of the third CEO had slipped their minds. Diwata, a Freelancer from EnergyWave, leaned over from the table next to them. ¡°He¡¯s always been weird,¡± Diwata said. ¡°He¡¯d play his guitar in his office in the middle of the day. He implemented Wacky Hat Wednesdays. Once he just left in the middle of an all-staff meeting. And I don¡¯t mean he snuck out the back. He was literally in the middle of his speech when he got bored, grabbed a donut, and left. We all sat there for an hour before we realized he wasn¡¯t coming back.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a loon,¡± Calista said. ¡°Alison said he¡¯s unpredictable and dangerous.¡± ¡°She could be right,¡± Diwata agreed. ¡°People say all the lawsuits against his company broke his brain. He was set to lose everything before this contest sucked us all here. But despite all that ¨C or maybe because of it ¨C most of our employees liked him. He always made sure we got paid, even when the banks were closing in on his own fortune.¡± Milly considered Diwata¡¯s words. It¡¯s been Stone and Brass making all the aggressive moves. Is Shufflebottom part of their game, or is he just along for the ride? Then a disturbing thought came to her. Or is he playing a game of his own? ¡°Well, if he wasn¡¯t broken before, he sure was after they defeated that Arena,¡± Billy added. ¡°Comes back to the Castle in a jester costume, starts a band, and spends every minute he can either on stage, wandering the wilds, or just staring blankly at the sky. Did you know half the casualties from that Arena were from EnergyWave?¡± Milly finished her boar and used her magic to wash their plates before handing them back to Billy. Shufflebottom is still a CEO, and until I learn otherwise, I¡¯m going to treat him as such. He may still stab us in the back with a song on his lips. ¡°Thanks for supper, Billy,¡± Milly said as they rose from the table. ¡°Goose tomorrow?¡± ¡°For the Witch of the Castle of Glass, the Huntress, and the Alchemist?¡± Billy smiled. ¡°Anything you want, Milly.¡± Chapter 78 - The Protégé’s Craft "The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering." Ben Okri, Nigerian Poet They spent the remainder of the evening seated cross-legged in their living room as Rain began to enchant the mismatched clothes she had purchased from the Emporia. Rain¡¯s crafting talent was limited by her magic attribute. Adding a second enchantment or trying to add an advanced enchantment wasn¡¯t possible at her current magic level, so she decided to experiment with lower level single enchantments instead. ¡°Mils, let¡¯s enchant new shoes for both of us. We can¡¯t keep wearing what we have on,¡± Rain announced as she grabbed a pair of work boots from the pile. Comprised of tough, brown hide, and with a steel toe, the boots could have owned by any construction worker, yet somehow, they also fit with Rain¡¯s overall aesthetic. They blended with her tailcoat perfectly. ¡°These¡¯ll last me a while,¡± Rain said, pleased with her choice. ¡°Your turn to pick.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just enchant the shoes I have now?¡± Milly inquired. She¡¯d found her simple black sneakers in a thrift store three years ago and Milly had grown comfortable with them. Calista laughed and retrieved one of Milly¡¯s shoes from the wall next to the elevator. It was covered in sand and muck and was heavily stained with gore as a result of their battles. The sole had come half-unglued and flopped about as Calista held it up for Milly to see. ¡°Milly, I¡¯m so old,¡± Calista said, flapping the shoe so the sole resembled a mouth. ¡°Why won¡¯t you just let me die.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Milly chuckled, embarrassed. ¡°I guess¡­ are there any other black sneakers?¡± ¡°Oh, I know just the ones,¡± Calista said excitedly, abandoning Milly¡¯s shoe in the middle of their circle. She tore through the pile until she lifted out a pair of black, thigh-high gothic platform boots. A dozen silver buckles stretched up the length of the boot, and twin silver chains danged down its tongue. The elevated soles added an extra four inches to Milly¡¯s height, making her nearly as tall as Calista. ¡°You¡¯d look so badass in these.¡± ¡°¡­ Okay,¡± Milly responded with only a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°You¡¯ve got to try them on, beautiful, before you say no. It¡¯ll fit so well with your witch aesthetic and¡­ wait, did you say okay?¡± Calista asked, stunned. ¡°You never just say okay. Did you¡­ Oh. My. God. You¡¯ve worn something like this before, haven¡¯t you?¡± Milly blushed fiercely and reached for the boots. ¡°I found a pair when I was fourteen, in the trash next to my foster home. They were already pretty old, but they were my favorite thing. I had them for four years, and they¡­ um¡­ may have started my goth phase.¡± ¡°Mils, weren¡¯t you wearing a black pentagram hoodie when we first met?¡± Rain asked slyly. ¡°Well, maybe it was more than a phase,¡± admitted Milly. ¡°Though, really, it was just me wearing black all he time. Being a real goth is expensive. But they helped me get through some hard times, especially when I had no home and nothing to call my own. They finally gave out when I was eighteen, though I tried everything to keep them together. They just¡­ fell apart one day. I couldn¡¯t afford to get new ones. Just my five-dollar thrift store sneakers.¡± ¡°Then goth boots it is,¡± Rain said sweetly, as she plucked the boots from Milly¡¯s hands and set them on the ground in front of her. ¡°Which enchantment would you like?¡± Milly remembered the mountains in the north, and the maze of passageways that had led her nowhere. ¡°Cally¡¯s improved perception talent,¡± Milly answered. ¡°The further we get from the Castle, the stranger this world is becoming. Remember the memory orb? Cizen, that decaying god, was responsible for the contest¡¯s deepest secrets. Think about that ¨C an entire God dedicated to nothing but secrets. I don¡¯t want to risk missing one that could be critically important.¡± ¡°Milly, that¡¯s a really clever idea. I wonder if I should try the same, though my Only the Original penalty may limit what I can do,¡± Rain said after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°But let¡¯s give this a shot.¡± Rain placed a hand across the toes of the gothic boots and held onto Calista¡¯s arm with the other hand. Her body began to glow with a faint metallic hue, and then a bright flash erupted over the boots, flooding their living room with light. Passiflora, who had been playing with one of the trinkets in the box, shrieked in surprise and nearly fell off the couch. Rain felt her magic reserves drop, and the light faded away. ¡°Done,¡± Rain declared, a faint line of sweat beading her forehead. ¡°Check them out.¡± Milly held up her new platform boots.
Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots Fabulous fashion for the witch on the go! Benefit: Grants the Improved Perception (beginner) talent to the wearer.
¡°They are wonderful, Rain. Thank you,¡± Milly whispered. She felt like a long, lost piece of herself had been returned. She slipped them on and twirled around their living room playfully. She found herself laughing with delight, until she grew dizzy and stumbled. Calista caught her. ¡°Careful there, honey,¡± Calista said as she stared at her happy girlfriend as they stood eye-to-eye. ¡°Gods, you¡¯re beautiful.¡± ¡°You¡¯re blind,¡± Milly said, as she leaned in and gave Calista a gentle kiss. She didn¡¯t feel self-conscious about Calista¡¯s compliment. Deep inside, behind all the self-doubt, a little piece of her had started to believe that Calista may actually find her beautiful.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. By the time Passiflora had fallen asleep on the couch, they had enchanted a handful of new items to help them in their journey. Rain had tried to enchant improved perception on her own work boots, but her Only the Original restriction had prevented her from doing so as the enchantment on Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots was at beginner level and there was nowhere below that to go. Instead, Rain channeled Calista¡¯s Defensive Tactics into her boots, but narrowed the talent to a defensive skill that only involved her feet. The result was a talent called Fancy Footwork, which increased the speed and responsiveness of her footwork while in combat. ¡°This way, I can branch Calista¡¯s Defensive Tactics talent into a number of other, lesser talents without worrying about duplication,¡± Rain surmised, feeling proud of herself. ¡°It''s not as powerful, but I can be more versatile this way." Rain¡¯s next experiment was to enchant two trinkets with the same talent that could grow weaker to observe how her Only the Original restriction worked. The first trinket was a small reddish brown clay pot. Rain imbued it with Milly¡¯s Healer¡¯s Aura. The finished object projected the aura across a one-hundred-foot radius and increased the efficiency and power of healing spells within the aura by thirty percent, which was only slightly weaker than Milly¡¯s aura, though Milly''s would grow more powerful as she leveled up whereas the trinket would remain static. It could be turned off by flicking the side of the pot with a finger and had a one-hour charge. After that, it required six hours to recharge. ¡°Not bad, Rain,¡± Milly praised. ¡°We should give it to Ying for the medical clinic.¡± Rain nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I had in mind. I owe her for taking care of me this past week, and I hate being in someone¡¯s debt. Now, let¡¯s try the next one.¡± Rain enchanted the second trinket, a sandstone carving of a bison, with the same Healer¡¯s Aura talent. Unlike her attempt to enchant the work boots with improved perception, this time the enchantment worked, though it had a fifty percent reduced efficacy. It only projected out in a fifty-foot radius and increased healing spells by fifteen percent. It had a thirty-minute charge and required twelve hours to recharge. ¡°We¡¯ll give this one to Whitewing,¡± Rain decided. Drenched in sweat, she had started to realize the physical toll that consecutive enchantment took. She would need to increase her toughness attribute, alongside magic and agility, as she leveled up. ¡°So, if my math is correct, if I enchant a third item with Healer¡¯s Aura, it would only increase healing by about seven percent, last for fifteen minutes, and require a day to recharge.¡± ¡°Hardly worth it,¡± Calista concluded, and Rain nodded her agreement. Next, Rain grabbed a small black collar from the pile and enchanted it with an altered version of Milly¡¯s telekinesis called Invisible Hand. The talent allowed the wearer to move objects less than one pound in weight a distance no greater than ten feet away. Rain called to Anchovy, who was napping on Passiflora¡¯s lap as the child slept. He lazily opened one eye and glared at Rain with displeasure for waking him from his seventh catnap of the day. ¡°Come on, you silly goose. You¡¯ll like this,¡± Rain promised as she held out the collar. Anchovy gave an exaggerated yawn, his annoyed eyes never leaving his master. He got up deliberately slowly, careful not to wake Passiflora, and hopped down from the couch. It was another minute before he finally arrived at Milly¡¯s side, having taken his time to sniff every object along the way. Rain, a beacon of patience, slipped the collar around his neck when he arrived. The cat scratched at it, displeased. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it, Anchovy,¡± Rain promised. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to help me mind Rain On My Parade with this now. You can grab potions from the shelves, brew tea, and take a customer¡¯s gold. Everything that comes with running the shop.¡± Anchovy cocked his head. Helping run Rain On My Parade interested him, though, as a proud feline, he couldn¡¯t let her know that. He activated the Invisible Hand, used it to grab a soft penguin plushy from the trinket box, and threw it at Rain. The plushy struck her in the forehead with a high-pitched squeak and fell to the floor. Milly and Calista burst out laughing as Anchovy hopped back onto the couch and curled up on Passiflora¡¯s lap, no longer scratching his collar. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a night,¡± Rain said, her magic and body nearly exhausted. ¡°You are amazing, Rain,¡± praised Calista. ¡°With all these new inventions, you¡¯re like our own personal Q.¡± ¡°Q?¡± asked Milly, confused. ¡°From James Bond. The guy who makes all of Bond¡¯s gadgets.¡± Milly shrugged. ¡°Gods, honey. Let¡¯s hope this contest has a TV for a reward. We¡¯ve got so many movies to watch together.¡± Milly headed to the couch and lifted Passiflora into her arms over Anchovy¡¯s protests. ¡°Mountains tomorrow?¡± she asked as Rain scooped up the grumpy Anchovy and placed him on her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m going to open Rain On My Parade tomorrow. I¡¯m worried about Gabriel, Susan, and the others,¡± Rain replied. ¡°After tomorrow, I think my leg will be strong enough to walk without the crutch. Just in time for the hearing.¡± Milly felt the happiness that had built over the course of the evening seep away at the mention of the hearing. For a wonderful few hours, she had let herself forget about that quickly approaching mess. ¡°Let¡¯s plan for the mountains, my love,¡± Calista said as she watched the anxiety settle into Milly. ¡°Alison and Elmer should know more details about the hearing tomorrow. Until then, no sense worrying about it.¡± They said good night to Rain and tucked Passiflora into their bed as they had the night before. Before long, Calista drifted off to sleep and her snores filled the room. But Milly couldn¡¯t sleep. She spent the next few hours staring at the ceiling, her mind filled with thoughts of what was to come. Her anxiousness felt all-encompassing, and she climbed out of bed so she wouldn¡¯t disturb Calista and Passiflora. She sat at the kitchen table and stared forlornly across the moonlit waters of the eastern ocean. From their fourteenth-floor window, she could see the edge of the first island out there, just at the edge of the horizon. How many more islands lay beyond our sight, nestled in thousands of miles of ocean? How long are we going to be here? How long do I need to endure Stone and Brass as they cast me as someone I am not? I know Rain is right ¨C we need to be subtle as we fight back ¨C but I feel like I¡¯m caught in someone¡¯s grip, and they are starting to squeeze. It wasn¡¯t just Stone and Brass that haunted her darkened thoughts. The corruptions in the game are an even bigger threat than the CEOs, or so Luna says. I haven¡¯t come across any bugs since the Arena of Protection, but I know they are out there, and Luna is counting on me to fix them. Every player is counting on me, even if they don¡¯t know it. If Luna and I don¡¯t deal with those bugs, none of us stand a chance. Milly opened her inventory and pulled out the small antidepressant potion Rain had made her. It felt heavy in her hand. I thought I was doing well. These three weeks have been so crazy that I haven¡¯t had time to think about my depression. It was always there in my previous life, and I had through I had left it behind. But did I? I¡­ I want to believe Rain is wrong. That I don¡¯t need this. I really want to believe. Milly stared at the vial for a long time, trying to convince herself of that. Her life had changed so much that it was hard to compare herself now to what they had once been. Yet she knew, deep beneath it all, lay the dark river that could carry her away as it once had before. It¡¯s not weakness, Milly. You had the same thoughts when you first got your medication. You didn¡¯t take it at all that first month because it felt like you would be admitting failure - a weak girl, unable to fix her own mind. Remember where that got you ¨C you went to a dark place. You have Cally now. And Passiflora and Rain. You can¡¯t afford to do that to yourself again. You owe it to them to be healthy. Before her resolve disappeared, Milly popped the cork on the vial and swallowed a half teaspoon of the liquid. It tasted faintly of decomposed leaves and Milly clicked her tongue in displeasure. ¡°Yuck. I hope Rain¡¯s flavors improve as she gets better at alchemy,¡± Milly said. She placed the vial back in her inventory and returned to their bed. Her head hit her pillow, and she was asleep moments later. Chapter 79 - Building a Life in the Darkness "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French Writer ¡°Do you see that slight golden sparkle in the rock? Here, right at eye-level along the cliff,¡± Calista instructed as she traced her hands along the chasm. The Huntress had noticed the subtle distinction moments after they had arrived at the entrance to the maze in the mountains. Milly leaned in close and squinted. The shimmer was faint, but she could distinguish it if she looked hard enough. ¡°I see it,¡± Milly answered. She scratched a tiny flake of stone from the wall and rubbed it between two fingers. It crumbled into dust and tiny, golden flakes settled on her finger. ¡°Clever.¡± Calista pointed towards the other three entrances into the maze ¨C an animal path through the forest, a small river valley, and a winding, weather-carved passage up the cliffside. ¡°There are four paths we can choose, but this is the only one with the golden shimmer. I¡¯ll bet you anything that if we follow the shimmer will lead us through this maze.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recognize any of these paths. It was two chasms, a tunnel, and an animal path when I came here last time,¡± Milly said, confused. ¡°And there definitely wasn¡¯t any shimmer.¡± Calista tapped Milly¡¯s gothic boots with her sandals. ¡°Improved perception, honey. For me, with advanced level, the shimmer is clear as day. Hell, it practically pulls me in. At beginner level, I guess you have to actively look for it.¡± ¡°Then this maze can¡¯t be solved by someone without that skill?¡± wondered Milly. ¡°Or another pathfinding talent,¡± Calista said. ¡°There are a bunch of different talents available, each with its own strengths. I suppose a player could eventually find their way through the maze simply by trial and error, but it would take a lot longer. Though¡­ you said these paths weren¡¯t here last time? Brute force may not be an option. No wonder no player has made it past this point in the mountains yet.¡± ¡°Well, I want to see what¡¯s on the other side of this maze,¡± Milly declared as she grasped Calista¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Always,¡± Calista smiled, and they walked into the chasm side-by-side. * * * Calista¡¯s observation proved correct, and they soon found themselves weaving their way through the maze at a rapid pace. The goblin camps they came across proved no match for the Witch and the Huntress, who tore through them so quickly that it hardly slowed them down. The experience and rewards were still terrible, and soon Milly was once again drowning in pitiful rings, non-magical goblin equipment, and enough loincloths for Lunky, the Goblin Prince, to outfit an entire goblin army in the smelly garments. At noon, they stopped for lunch beneath a waterfall that cascaded down from a glacial field at the apex of a nearby mountain peak. Devouring a fare of berries, coconuts, and boar, they sat next to each other, hips touching and feet intertwined, as they talked about their lives and their future. ¡°It could be years, you know,¡± Milly said as she tossed a boar bone into the water and watched it float down the stream. ¡°This contest. It¡¯s not the life I¡¯d thought I¡¯d be living.¡± ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± teased Calista. ¡°No, its the opposite,¡± Milly smiled, leaning into Calista¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve got a wonderful girlfriend that I love, an amazing best friend, and an actual home I can call my own. Sure, it comes with its¡­ um¡­ Stoney downsides, but, if I¡¯m being honest, it¡¯s more than I had ever hoped for in my previous life.¡± ¡°Which was?¡± asked Calista curiously. ¡°Holding down a steady job. Paying rent so I stayed off the streets. Just¡­ being able to get through each day,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°In the end, I wanted little more than to survive until the next morning, just so I could do it all again. And there were days I didn¡¯t even want that. In my dreams, there was never anyone one else in my life. No girlfriend. No best friend. Just me. Alone. As it had always been. It¡­ it wasn¡¯t really a life. It was just an existence.¡± Calista wrapped a supportive hand around Milly¡¯s waist. ¡°What about you, Cally?¡± asked Milly. ¡°You must have had some pretty ambitious dreams before all this.¡± ¡°Me? My dreams were ambitious, but hardly noble,¡± laughed Calista. ¡°I wanted to marry rich. Snag a man with a fortune who was too busy to pay attention to me, so I could spend my life doing what I wanted on his dime. Travel the world, buy expensive clothes, and experience the finest luxuries life has to offer. I figured if I had that much money, I could bury who I really was so deep that she would never emerge again.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Cally!¡± Milly said aghast. ¡°You are the most wonderful woman in the world. Why would you ever want to do that?¡± ¡°Well, you only saw the tip of my self-destructive iceberg, beautiful,¡± Calista sighed as she opened up to her girlfriend. ¡°Honestly, it wasn¡¯t that much different than the life you described. Empty. Cold. Lonely.¡± Calista lifted Milly¡¯s hand to her lips and gave it a gentle kiss. ¡°But then I had to go and meet a wonderful woman in a game of death, and she made me realize I could be so much more. I guess fighting beside a woman like that can change one¡¯s perspective.¡± ¡°I know the feeling,¡± Milly echoed, enjoying Calista¡¯s lips on her palm. ¡°So¡­ did you dream of you and Mr. Rich having¡­ um¡­ kids?¡± ¡°Honestly?¡± Calista chuckled. ¡°I was willing to shoot out a couple brats if it kept his money rolling in.¡± ¡°You would not!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what nannies and boarding schools are for, after all,¡± Calista continued. ¡°Rich people don¡¯t parent. They outsource.¡± ¡°Cally!¡± Calista giggled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, beautiful. I never came close to achieving that dream. I was working in Acicenter after all. And he day you saved me from that ogre, that shallow woman and her self-centered dreams vanished. There¡¯s nothing like a near-death experience to make you reconsider your path in life.¡± ¡°So¡­ kids?¡± Milly prompted. She needed to know. Calista clutched Milly¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°I know what you are asking, honey. But¡­ I never wanted a child. I didn¡¯t think I could give a child the love they needed. My father was such a wonderful person and I¡­ I wasn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t want a child to grow up to be like me ¨C selfish and mean.¡± Milly felt her heart drop. I never wanted kids either. After a life devoid of affection, what could I possibly have to offer a child? But then I met Passi and¡­ and Luna¡­ and it changed me in a way I never thought possible. Calista picked up a stone and tossed it into the stream. The ripples were carried away on the current. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, love. I meant it when I said you¡¯ll be an amazing mother. Ever since Passi started hanging around you, I¡¯ve seen how you¡¯ve changed. You love that little fairy child, and I love that you love her. And, truthfully, I like the little brat too. How could I not? I just¡­ need more time to figure out who I want to be to her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not her mother, Cally,¡± Milly said. ¡°We¡¯re just¡­ I¡¯m just looking after her while she¡¯s Ying¡¯s apprentice.¡± ¡°Milly, that little girl adores you. Right now, you¡¯re the closest thing she has to a mother. I know she¡¯s still healing. She¡¯s been through a lot. But I can see, plain as day, where this is going¡­ and so do you.¡± ¡°I¡­ if it did¡­ what would you¡­,¡± Milly stammered as she struggled to ask the critical question. ¡°If you were her mom?¡± Calista finished for her. ¡°I¡¯d love you all the more for it, and I¡¯d protect that little dumpling with my life. And, who knows, maybe our future here is more than we thought possible back home. Maybe¡­ I could learn to be something more.¡± Milly wiped away a tear she hadn¡¯t realized had been growing in the corner of her eye. ¡°Yah?¡± she asked softly. ¡°This is a strange world, honey. Being mothers to a fairy girl won¡¯t even make it to the top ten list of unexpected experiences by the time we win this damn contest.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± Milly chuckled softly, trying to hide her uncertainty. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ between you, Rain, and Passi, and having a home to call my own, I feel like, lately, the life I¡¯m living here is better than the one I left behind. It¡¯s more than I have ever hoped for.¡± ¡°I know. I feel the same way,¡± Calista agreed. ¡°Just one roadblock we need to deal with. Well, two roadblocks, I guess.¡± ¡°Stone and Brass,¡± Milly agreed. ¡°I know we agreed to work against them subtly, but¡­¡± Milly and Calista felt a soft tone in the back of their minds as Rain¡¯s telepathic voice entered their minds. ¡°Hey you two. How¡¯re the mountains? You find those Firebush thorns?¡± Rain asked with a sense of urgency. ¡°Yes, though they were a bitch to pick, Rain,¡± Calista responded. Her fingers had been burned when she had plucked the sentient plant, though Milly had healed her wounds. ¡°They¡¯d better be worth it.¡± ¡°They will be. Thought that¡¯s not why I need to talk to you. Elmer and Alison just came to see me at Rain On My Parade. They reached an agreement with Stone and Brass on their justice system. The one that will be trialed at Milly¡¯s hearing tomorrow. They¡¯d like Calista¡¯s help to plan Milly¡¯s defense.¡± ¡°Does that plan include hurling my spear through Brass¡¯ face?¡± Calista asked, only half-joking. ¡°You know it doesn¡¯t,¡± Rain admonished. ¡°This is important, Calista. It¡¯s an opportunity to use Stone and Brass¡¯ plan against them and show the players loyal to the CEOs that we¡¯re not the bad guys they¡¯ve made us out to be.¡± Calista looked over at Milly, who nodded her agreement. ¡°As much as I like the sound of Calista¡¯s spear hurling idea, Rain¡¯s plan is safer. And I¡¯d feel better if you were there helping them plan, Cally. Rain, will you be there too? You¡¯re both much better at this intrigue stuff than I am.¡± ¡°Yes, they want me on their defense team as well,¡± Rain confirmed. ¡°Business at Rain On My Parade has been brisk since we opened this morning, but Anchovy can watch the store this afternoon. He¡¯s gotten quite adept at using that Invisible Hand talent. Though he¡¯s also developed a habit of tossing that penguin plush toy at customers who displease him. Which, as a cat, is most of them. He¡¯s¡­ hey, you little minx! Knock that off.¡± Milly could picture the penguin plushy hitting the back of Rain¡¯s head, and, despite the anxiety in her chest, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Will you come back with me, Milly? Calista asked as she withdrew a Waypoint Crystal. ¡°No. I¡¯ll just get in the way. I want to I¡¯ll finish this maze and see what¡¯s on the other side,¡± Milly decided. ¡°Just be careful, okay?¡± Calista said hesitantly. ¡°You have a Waypoint Crystal?¡± Milly opened her inventory to check. ¡°I¡¯ve got two. I¡¯ll be fine, Cally. We¡¯ve seen nothing but low-level monsters in here.¡± ¡°Okay, but¡­¡± Milly leaned over and kissed her girlfriend. She let the kiss linger until she felt Calista¡¯s protests melt away in her arms. ¡°Go. I¡¯ll see you tonight. If I get into trouble, I¡¯ll message you telepathically and you can come rescue me.¡± Calista squeezed Milly¡¯s hand affectionately as they separated. She held aloft the small crystal. ¡°Oh, and Cally,¡± Milly asked. ¡°Can you pick up Passi after her apprenticeship, in case I¡¯m late getting back?¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a mom,¡± teased Calista, as she activated her crystal and teleported away. In the blink of an eye, Milly was left alone under the waterfall, her mind now flooded with anxious thoughts of what tomorrow¡¯s hearing would bring. Chapter 80 - Sanctuary "Your home is your sanctuary. You need to make it a place you love to be in." Betty Gabriel, American Actress It took Milly another hour before the shimmering trail brought her to the end of the mountain maze. She passed through chasms and forests, rivers, and valleys, until, finally, she reached a long, dark tunnel just below the tree line. This was not a natural cave system. The slides of the tunnel were perfectly smooth, and the top was rounded in a half-circle, as if it were part of an abandoned railway. Milly could see a trace of light at the end of the tunnel ¨C a passage straight through the mountain. I still don¡¯t understand how this maze works. How can I walk towards a mountain but never reach it? Magic, no doubt. At least I¡¯m finally at the end. Using her fire magic as a torch to illuminate the darkness, Milly strode into the tunnel. The shimmering gold that led her to this place was infused into the tunnel¡¯s every surface. Reflecting her firelight, it made the tunnel shine like the night sky. Enamored by the sight, she nearly ran into the small, golden chest the size of a jewelry box resting on a rocky pedestal in the exact centre of the tunnel. Milly brought her light closer and the chest shined like a beacon. Along the top of the chest was a message, engraved in silver.
Lost one, To be a player in the God Contest is to stand at the center of the hurricane May this gift provide you and your loved ones sanctuary from the winds, if only for a few precious moments As my maze once did for me - The Goddess Ariadne, Mistress of the Labyrinth
¡°A gift from another goddess?¡± Milly whispered with excitement. ¡°I didn¡¯t know such gifts could be found outside of an Arena.¡± Milly ran her fingers along the small, ornate chest, and marveled at its detailed design. Spiraling lines stretched out from the latch in a complex pattern that defied all efforts at rationality. The lines actually moved along the surface of the chest, swirled about, as they interweaved with one another and abruptly ended, only to reappear elsewhere on the chest. Milly saw one of the lines had a faint shimmer that mirrored the one that had led her through the passageways. ¡°It¡¯s a map of the maze,¡± Milly realized. ¡°No wonder the starting paths were different today, and why I couldn¡¯t find my way through. The paths change! I could have searched blindly for a hundred years and never found the end.¡± Milly popped the latch on the chest, and the lines abruptly stopped moving. Milly knew that moment she had opened the chest, the maze through the mountains ¨C now completed ¨C had returned once more to static mountain terrain, indistinguishable from the rest of the mountains. All players would now be able to traverse its paths without getting lost. Lifting the lid of the chest, Milly drew out a single piece of aged parchment, folded twice into a small square. ¡°What the¡­?¡± Milly said, confused. She¡¯d expected to find a magic ring or necklace, or perhaps a talent book, not a piece of paper. Milly unfolded the parchment. It was a map.
Map to Sanctuary: Mountain Meadow Across the God Contest, hidden personal sanctuaries exist for intrepid players to discover. These sanctuaries can only be accessed by the player who discovers them and those she designates may enter. It is a place of peace ¨C of simple solitude ¨C where she can, for a time, detach herself from the chaos around her. They are an integral part of establishing a sense of stability and sanity within the Contest. WARNING: Players may find themselves addicted to the peace that a personal sanctuary can provide. Ensure your use of the sanctuary is balanced against the needs of the Contest. Excessive reliance on the sanctuary can result in a player failing to grow and falling behind their peers, ultimately leading to their demise.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Milly clutched the parchment as if it were a lifeline she didn¡¯t realize she needed. Tears streamed down her cheeks. My own sanctuary? A place where Cally, Passi, Rain, and I can go and simply be at peace. No Stone. No Brass. No monsters. No watching my back for a knife? Just a place to be ourselves, if only for a few moments. Wiping away her tears, Milly studied the map. It¡¯s close. Just past this tunnel and through the valley, until I reach a mountain with a split peak. If I hurry, I should be able to find it before nightfall. Milly quickly memorized the basics of the map, then stowed it away in her inventory. ¡°Thanks, Goddess,¡± Milly praised. ¡°I hope you¡¯re one those who have escaped madness¡¯ touch.¡± The only answer was the lifeless wind whistling through tunnel. Milly started to walk towards the end of the maze, then quickly turned back, picked up the golden chest, and added it to her inventory. ¡°No sense letting this go to waste,¡± Milly justified. ¡°Cally will love it.¡± * * * Milly emerged from the tunnel halfway up the mountain¡¯s slope. The beauty that awaited her drove away, for a moment, the anxiety in her heart. A vast coniferous forest stretched out before her, and filled the broad valley that weaved its way through hundreds of mountain peaks that stretched beyond the horizon. The mountain peaks grew taller the further they got from the Castle of Glass, until those on the horizon stretched so high that Milly could not see their peaks. Countless waterfalls cascaded down mountain slopes, fed from glacial fields at their peaks. The mist created by the waters striking stone thousands of feet below refracted the sunlight and bathed the valley in a blanket of rainbow hues that took Milly¡¯s breath away. The glacial water flowed down the valley, first as hundreds of small streams and then joined together in a three-hundred-foot-wide river that twisted and turned its way down the valley towards to the ocean. Massive lakes filled with crystal clear glacial water interspersed the forest, their surfaces loaded with waterfowl and wildlife drinking on their shores. Large lake fish broke the water as they fed on the insects that hovered above its surface. Even from this distance, Milly could tell those fish were massive. There may be some tasty fish in there, but what other creatures inhabit those lakes? I¡­ think I¡¯ll stay away from them for now. Especially the big lakes. A herd of elk broke from the trees below her, bolting over deadfall and around rocky boulders in a vicious stampede. There must be two hundred elk in that herd! It could feed the Castle and the Fairies for months. What are they¡­ oh¡­ The lagging elk, an elderly buck that limped on its back leg, was suddenly set upon by a monstrous grizzly bear the size of a school bus. The bear ripped the elk clean in half and swallowed its back half whole before the elk had finished its final, pain-filled bleat. This isn¡¯t goblin territory anymore. I¡¯ll need to be careful. I don¡¯t know how strong the monsters are in this section of the mountains. Milly waited until the monstrous bear had finished its meal before she began her descent down the mountainside. Following the main river up the valley, she occasionally pulled out the map to check her directions. The mist felt cool against Milly¡¯s skin and gave her goosebumps, though after her experience in the jungle heat, Milly felt herself embracing the chill. Although Milly¡¯s speed had greatly increased, she found herself unable to travel as quickly as she had on the prairies. The dense forest and the prevalence of deadfall, boulders, and roots along the ground made her progress irritatingly slow. She avoided any creatures she came across, which slowed her further. Everywhere she looked, there were massive predators and great herds of prey. After the battles with the goose and toads, Milly did not want to underestimate the monsters in the world. She knew how dangerous even the most innocuous of them could be, and now was not the time to test the strength of those creatures. It was three hours before she spotted the mountain with the split peak nestled to the west. She deviated from the river and carved her way towards it. The forest was dark and damp, and there was no path to follow. Milly formed a ball of fire to illuminate the woods and keep her warm. She marched through the forest for another hour, growing ever closer to the twin peaks of the mountain. She avoided a pack of half-owl creatures that stalked the forest, and a giant comprised of shale. The afternoon sun was well along its daily journey when she found what she was looking for ¨C a narrow gap in the mountain that led to the sanctuary beyond. Its entrance was half-hidden by fallen trees that Milly had to rip out to gain access. ¡°Here we go,¡± Milly told herself, stashing the map back in her inventory. ¡°It¡¯ll be a bit tight, so think skinny thoughts, Milly.¡± She took a deep breath and squeezed herself into the gap, barely able to fit. Milly inched her way forward bit-by-bit, trying to keep claustrophobia at bay. The walls of the gap were weak, and Milly found herself praying the rocks would not give way. She used her earth magic to reinforce the wall she touched and to help push her along. After ten arduous, tension-filled minutes, she finally found herself on the other side. She had found the meadow. Her new sanctuary. And the sight took her breath away.
Congratulations! You have discovered Sanctuary: Mountain Meadow This is a Personal Sanctuary. Would you like to rename this location?
Sanctuary: Mountain Meadow has been renamed Milly¡¯s Meadow Personal Waypoint Pillar Activated. Designate Access?
You have provided Player Calista Gale, Player Rain Desjarlais, Fairy Kin Passiflora, and Familiar Anchovy with access to your personal sanctuary. They may now access it from any Waypoint Pillar.
Chapter 81 - The Meadow "Listen to the inner light; it will guide you. Listen to inner peace; it will feed you. Listen to inner love; it will transform you, it will divinise you, it will immortalise you." Sri Chinmoy, Indian Philosopher Milly sat on a wide, flat rock situated on the edge of the gurgling river that flowed around Milly¡¯s Meadow. There was a cool chill in the air, and the fragrant pines infused it with a sublime scent. A wave of ferns, flowers, and meadow grass covered the land around her, and below that lay a soft, thin layer of moss, slightly damp from the spray of the river. Above the meadow rose the split-peaked mountain, which Milly, in a fit of playful immaturity, had accidentally, and permanently, named Cally¡¯s Twin Peaks. It was just a joke! My mind was on¡­ well, Cally¡¯s twin peaks. How was I supposed to know that the player who discovers a landform gets to name it? Or that the name would be permanent. Or that every player would be able to see it. Fuck, Cally¡¯s going to kill me. The surface of Cally¡¯s Twin Peaks was marred by avalanche trails and the sporadic cave entrance. The pine forest climbed halfway up its slope, where soil gave way to a kaleidoscope of grey and brown stone that supported only the hardiest of shrubs, and even the shrubs ultimately gave way as the mountain rose higher still. The twin peaks were so high they breached the faint whisp of cloud that floated across the valley¡¯s sky. Between the peaks, a snowy glacier with hints of pure blue veins amongst the white had settled where the mountain bowled. At the base of that bowl, a majestic waterfall cascaded down the mountain and carved an unassailable path through both trees and rocks. Its waters created a fine mist that spread over her meadow and down the valley in a way that created a rainbow shimmer when the light hit it in just the right way. The waterfall ended with a crash at the base of the mountain, washing over huge boulders that stole its hard-earned momentum. The water created a river that flowed down the centre of the valley towards the meadow. Started as narrow white-water rapids, it gradually calmed into a lazy river, thirty feet across at its widest, as the gentle slope of the valley tamed it. The river split in half when it reached the western edge of the meadow, such that it flowed around the meadow, encircling it and effectively turning it into an island within the valley. Milly sat there now, at the edge of that calmed river, staring up at the rainbow hues of the waterfall. There were other mountains surrounding her ¨C it would hardly be a valley meadow if there weren¡¯t other mountains ¨C but she only had eyes for the twin-peaked mountain with its majestic glacier that granted her this moment¡¯s peace. The roar of its waters provided a steady, soothing music that sapped the worry from her soul ¨C its white noise drowning out the chaos of the world. She returned her gaze to the river. Its waters were slightly blue from mineral build-up, but otherwise crystal clear despite its depths. She could see trout swimming in the calmer river bends, until they scattered as the shadow of a hawk flew overhead. A raven dipped down from the sky and landed on the rocky shoreline beside her, oblivious to the witch¡¯s presence, and parched its thirst in the ice-cold current. Milly studied its movements with an absentminded curiosity, until it craned its neck towards her and flew off. She returned to studying the river. Flattened stones littered the riverbed, worn down by countless eons of erosion. Its shore was littered with fallen branches and stones that had been pushed into the meadow by heavy spring thaws. On the other side of the river, surrounding the meadow, the forest of coniferous trees, ferns, and moss stretched on endlessly, so dense that light struggled to reach the forest floor. Milly eased herself off her stone and headed down to the water, stepping carefully to avoid the thick mud that formed where water met earth. She knelt at the river¡¯s edge, cupped her hands tightly together and dipped them in the water. The glacial chill sucked the remaining heat from her skin. The water flowed into her self-made cup and Milly raised the prize to her lips. The cool water flowed down her throat. She closed her eyes tightly so she could focus completely on that moment. She had never tasted anything so perfect in all her life. She lost count of how many times she returned her hands to that water. By the time her thirst was quenched, her hands were numb from the cold. She casually wiped her hands on her grown to dry them, then channeled a touch of fire in both palms to heat them back up. Rubbing her hands together for added warmth, she spotted a pair of elk emerge from the forest on the other side of the river. The elk spotted her and hesitated, then slowly strode to the water¡¯s edge for a drink. Milly wondered whether she should hunt them. After all, two elk would feed many mouths back at the Castle of Glass and at the Isle of New Beginnings. But she found herself unable to do so, the peace in the meadow too perfect to destroy, and simply returned to her flat stone to watch them drink. The sun arched across the sky in a lazy procession from late afternoon to early evening, and, all the while, Milly sat there and took in the sanctuary around her. By the time she final climbed off the stone to stretch her legs, she had seen bear, deer, beavers, squirrels, a dozen species of birds, and even a cougar venture out of the forest to enjoy the river. Although cautious, the animals did not flee or attack her, as if the Mistress of the Meadow deserved their respect.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Milly had also seen two creatures she did not recognize. The first was a twin-headed songbird that chirped in harmony with itself, creating soft music that filled the meadow like a string instrument duet. It blended perfectly with the gentle gurgle of the flowing river and the distant crash of the waterfall, and the resulting symphony took Milly¡¯s breath away. The second creature was a multi-hued raven landed beside Milly and stared up at her with unmistakable intelligence. Milly placed a finger on its head and stroked it gently, and the bird nestled up to her for warmth. It stayed at her side until Milly¡¯s legs had fallen asleep and flew off with a grateful caw when she moved. After leaving the river, Milly strolled through the meadow itself. It was almost perfectly circular, surrounded on all sides by the river. Five acres in size, it was filled with berry bushes, tall grasses, and tiny flowers of pink, yellow, and blue. Milly plucked a handful of ripened blackberries from a nearby bush and stuffed them in her mouth, savoring the intense, juicy flavor. She ran her finger along her chin, catching the juice that dared to escape, and licked it away with delight. The tall grasses tickled her legs as she explored, finding raspberries and blueberries in scattered patches. A tree had fallen in the clearing long ago and now sported a collection of tiny white mushrooms along its decaying trunk. Milly plucked one, wondering if Billy could identify it, and placed it in her inventory. A small black bear wandered into the meadow and plopped itself next to an untouched blackberry bush. It started devouring the treasure, until it spotted Milly and stopped mid-handful. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Bear,¡± Milly laughed. ¡°There are plenty of blackberries to go around.¡± Milly was not scared of the black bear. It presented as much threat to her as the elk had. After careful consideration, the bear decided it felt much the same way about Milly and returned to its feast, thinking no more of the strange witch. Milly had never known peace like she did in her meadow, surrounded by the dense forests, majestic mountains, and the calming river. It was a balm for her wounded soul, and although she knew that the world outside the meadow was drowning in chaos, at that moment, it didn¡¯t seem to matter. ¡°I see why this meadow came with a warning. I don¡¯t want to leave this place,¡± Milly admitted to herself. She turned her gaze east, towards the hidden, narrow passage that had led her to this paradise. Beside the passage was a Waypoint Pillar that only she and her family could access. She didn¡¯t worry that another player would find this place by random chance. The entrance was unassuming, and it was located far off the beaten path. Even if they did, Milly didn¡¯t think they would be able to access it. The meadow was hers ¨C her personal sanctuary. Milly placed her hand against the meadow floor, breathing in the slightly acidic scent of healthy decay and rich soil. She could feel the energy of the valley in the soil. We could do so much with this place. A little cabin. A personal farm. Oh, we could try raising those Manifold Toads. I wonder if they would be tame if placed inside this meadow. She imagined Passi running through the meadow, a carefree girl giggling under the bright sun, and it made her heart melt. She pictured a small workshop for Rain to brew her potions, and a fireplace where she and Calista could snuggle together under a midnight sky. She spent the few minutes studying the meadow and deciding where all these additions would go. She found the perfect location for Rain¡¯s workshop ¨C a flat piece of earth nestled at the edge of the eastern river. In the morning, the workshop would be warmed by the morning rays, and in the afternoon, it would be cooled by the shade of the western pines. The workshop would be close to the water and provide Rain with unlimited crystal water for her brews. A short distance away, just back from the northern river, Milly pictured a small hut where her newfound family could spend the night when they needed to get away from the drama at the Castle of Glass. For a moment, she contemplated whether they could move here permanently, but she dismissed the notion. I love it here, but I also love our home on the fourteenth floor. Plus, the Castle has electricity and washrooms. I¡¯d never be able to convince Cally to leave those luxuries, and I¡¯d be reluctant as well. I¡¯ve lived on the streets. I know how precious those luxuries are. She¡¯d heard that some people ¨C rich people ¨C had cabins in the woods or on lakes outside of the city. A second home to get away from the trials of everyday life. This meadow felt like that. A hideaway from the world around them, if only for a few hours at a time. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing that would make this place perfect,¡± Milly said. She looked down at the skull ring on her finger. It was the first magical item she had received in the Contest. The Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre. It had changed her life that very first day of the Contest. It had given her the strength to survive. Yet, compared to her other equipment, it now seemed so small. It only gave a four-point strength increase, and it had a big penalty if she ever ran across the dead ogre¡¯s wife in the wilds. It had outlived its usefulness, except for one final task. ¡°I¡¯m going to miss this ring,¡± Milly said as she cupped it in her hands and began to channel her Oracle¡¯s Divinity. ¡°It really fit the witch aesthetic. Luna, if you¡¯re listening, I hope this works. And another ring would be great as a reward. Maybe a bat or cat this time instead of the skull.¡± Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance glowed brightly as it awaited Milly¡¯s question. ¡°Where is the nearest system back door?¡± Milly whispered, focusing on the AI child that lay beyond. The Wedding Ring of Philip the Ogre dissolved into her hand. Its remnants were carried off on the breeze and scattered about her meadow. As its final remnant left her hand, a destination appeared in her mind, and Milly found herself growing giddy. There was a backdoor at the base of the waterfall that flowed down Cally¡¯s Twin Peaks, only a quarter mile from the meadow. The discovery caused Milly¡¯s spirit to soar, and she found herself smiling at the thought of being able to visit Luna whenever she wanted. ¡°I¡¯ll visit soon, Luna,¡± Milly whispered into her glasses. ¡°I promise.¡± The glow of her amulet faded, and Milly¡¯s thoughts returned to the potential she could unlock in the meadow. ¡°Well then,¡± Milly declared, cracking her knuckles. ¡°Let¡¯s see what we can do with this place.¡± Chapter 82 - Finding Peace "Promise me you''ll always remember: You''re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." A. A. Milne, English Writer Milly was halfway through forming the earthen walls of Rain¡¯s workshop when Calista¡¯s telepathic message came in. ¡°Milly, honey, are you there?¡± Calista¡¯s voice filled her mind with perfect clarity. It felt like a warm blanket had settled over her. ¡°Hey Cally! I miss you. How was the planning?¡± Milly asked, as she stared at a small hole in the northern wall of the workshop that needed to be filled. For the first time since Milly had accepted The Scarred Witch class, she regretted not having access to the civilization talent web. There was an entire section on magical construction, and although Milly could fashion small structures such as walls and benches, and even decorate them to a limited extent, the elaborate buildings and monuments that could be magically crafted would forever be outside of her grasp. She waved her hand over the hole, and it disappeared. ¡°We know what the hearing will look like, and we have a plan. Elmer found witnesses willing to testify that the Carthage sisters started the fight.¡± ¡°So¡­ it¡¯s like a¡­ real court?¡± Milly asked, her heart lurching in her chest. The peace from the meadow abruptly shattered within her, as if a giant stone had suddenly shot through her windshield. ¡°Mostly. It won¡¯t just be Brass as the judge. Elmer and Alison would have none of that. They settled on judge for each faction, acting as a panel, so that each faction had a voice in final decisions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Cally, can we talk about this in person? I just¡­ I think I need you to hold me before you tell me the details,¡± Milly asked as her knees began to shake. ¡°Baby, are you alright?¡± Calista asked, concerned. ¡°You sound scared.¡± ¡°I¡­ I have something to show you. Can you get Rain and Passi and use the Waypoint Pillar to come to me. You¡¯ll know which waypoint it is. Did Billy cook the goose tonight?¡± ¡°¡­ are you safe?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯ll see when you get here. I just¡­ I need you right now.¡± ¡°¡­ okay. We¡¯ll be there soon. I love you,¡± Calista said softly. ¡°I love you too, Cally.¡± Milly felt Calista¡¯s voice leave her mind, and she let herself collapse to the mossy meadow floor. Anxiety gripped at her heart and her breath grew shallow and rapid. What did you expect Milly? Brass is a lawyer. Of course she was going to model it after a real court. Why did you delude yourself into thinking it would be something else? She had been to court before, two years to the day after her foster father had been criminally charged. That night ¨C the night she had relived in the Arena of Choice ¨C had been the worse night of her life, but it was the events that followed that solidified the trauma so deep within her that it had set the course of her life thereafter. Those two years of waiting were filled with anxiety-fueled nightmares that had stripped her of what little resilience she¡¯d managed to build as a child. The constant reminders from social workers, psychologists, prosecutors, and the never-ending cycle of faceless foster parents of her violation had replaced her resilience with a cold, lonely isolation that she¡¯d wrapped around herself like a protective shell. Those were the years when she¡¯d given herself the scars on her wrists. Those where the years when she wanted to end it all. By the time her foster father¡¯s trial arrived, after months of false starts and delay tactics, Milly was a broken child. The final torture was enduring eight hours as the primary witness at the trial. The prosecutor forced her to describe every single step of his violation of her in soul-piercing detail, then she had to survive hours on end of her foster father¡¯s defense counsel calling her a liar and questioning her judgment. All the while, she had to stare at the man who stole her childhood ¨C his hungry eyes fixed on hers and the smirk he had reserved only for her plastered across his face. All hope of living a happy life died within her that day. All that was left was a broken woman, for those two years had killed the child she had once been. The guilty verdict had felt hollow, and his six-month sentence would have been laughable if her laughter had not died with the child. That day, as court concluded and he was led away in handcuffs, Milly walked out of the courtroom in a daze. She didn¡¯t return to her foster home ¨C her fourth since it had happened ¨C and since she was now sixteen years old, no one came to look for her. Or, perhaps they did, and she was simply never found. She¡¯d spend months on the streets after that, trying to survive and hoping she wouldn¡¯t. The memory left her, and tears streamed down her cheeks. I thought I had left that all behind me. I put on a brave face against Stone and Brass. But here I am, still the same lost girl, paralyzed by her past.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Milly sat in her meadow as the sun creeped over the western mountains, and even its perfection could not soothe the anxious, injured witch that the memory had left in its wake. * * * Milly thought she had successfully bottled up her rampaging emotions by the time Calista, Rain, and Passi arrived at the meadow. She wanted nothing more than to enjoy this moment alongside them, watching and laughing as they explored the peaceful meadow. She wanted to see their faces light up with the same potential that she had experienced herself when she first entered their new sanctuary. She had wanted that so badly. Instead, as Calista approached, Milly¡¯s ill-constructed emotional dam shattered. She ran into Calista¡¯s arms, clutched her tighter than she ever had before, and wept. She wept all the tears she had buried beneath the cold and lonely shell she had built as a child. It was as if the love she had finally found with her new family had finally melted those childhood tears so they could finally be shed. It was an hour before Milly had collected herself enough to tell her story to Calista. It was the first time that reliving the trauma of her past didn¡¯t feel like just another knife stabbed into her chest. Instead, nestled in the arms of the woman she loved, it felt like a balm on a long-opened wound. Calista simply held Milly and listened. There was no judgement. No trying to fix her. No telling her she was wrong or to grow up. Calista gave none of the dismissals Milly had heard as a child. There was only love. By the end, Milly tears had transformed from tears of sorrow to tears of relief. Finally, after all these years, she found within herself the first steps towards true acceptance of what had happened to her and the profound impact it¡¯d had on her life. ¡°Sorry, Cally,¡± Milly apologized for the hundredth time, as she wiped her palm hand across her nose to clear away the tears and snot from her ugly cry. ¡°I must look like an absolute mess.¡± ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Calista said, her shoulder soaked with Milly¡¯s tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to go through all that, honey. You¡¯re so strong to survive what happened to you, and I love you all the more for that strength.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel strong,¡± Milly said, but even as the words escaped her, she knew it was not true. After years of suppressing her past, she was finally starting to come to terms with it. What had happened would forever be a part of her, but, when her healing was done, it would become a source of strength rather than a weakness. Milly gazed around the meadow, feeling lighter than she had in years. Passi ran across the meadow, laughing and twirling her arms, as she danced from bush to bush and stuffed her mouth full of berries. Their succulent juices dribbled down her chin and onto her dress. Milly couldn¡¯t help but laugh when her first thought was how she would get rid of the stains on Passi¡¯s dress. ¡°You¡¯re such a mom,¡± Calista teased with affection. ¡°Luckily, you¡¯re a magical mom, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll figure it out.¡± Milly smiled, and she didn¡¯t dispute Calista¡¯s words. Rain was at the western end of the meadow, examining the stone frame that Milly¡¯s had started constructing for her alchemy workshop. Rain had her notebook open and was already sketching out additions that she¡¯d need Milly to build. ¡°So¡­ Cally¡¯s Twin Peaks?¡± Calista said with a raised eyebrow, when she saw Milly¡¯s mind settle. ¡°It was just a joke!¡± Milly protested, as a blush broke across her face. ¡°I was thinking of something else, and the system won¡¯t let me change it.¡± ¡°Thinking of something else, were you? Please tell me that name isn¡¯t public to all players,¡± Calista said. The horrified look on Milly¡¯s face told her everything she needed to know. ¡°I¡­ I think I¡¯m ready to hear about this trial,¡± Milly deflected skillfully. Calista let her have this one. ¡°In the end, there¡¯s not much to it,¡± Calista began. ¡°It will work much like a normal trial ¨C witnesses, cross-examination, the whole nine yards ¨C except there will be three judges. Judy Brass is the judge for the CEOs, obviously. Billy¡¯s going to be the Freelancer judge¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s lucky for us,¡± Milly interrupted. ¡°He hates Brass with a passion.¡± ¡°Yah, he¡¯s eager for the chance to finally be on equal footing with her. The Farmer¡¯s representative is someone named Lucy Dawson. She went through two years of law school before she realized farming was her true calling. I think that decision alone makes her the smartest of the three.¡± ¡°I think I met her earlier this week in the garden. A little shorter than me, blond ponytail down her back, cute button nose? Dressed in a knee-length black skirt and white sleeveless top?¡± asked Milly. Calista raised a curious eyebrow at her. ¡°Cute button nose?¡± ¡°Not¡­ not that I was looking,¡± Milly denied. ¡°She seemed very¡­ um¡­ studious?¡± ¡°Oh, did she now?¡± Calista pried, secretly enjoying Milly tripping over her own words. ¡°And did you¡­ study her back?¡± ¡°I¡­ I mean she was really attentive to the plants,¡± Milly stuttered. ¡°Uh huh,¡± Calista teased. ¡°Well, if Lucy is as¡­ studious¡­ as you say she is, then Alison made a good decision picking her. Alison is a smart lady, and surprisingly crafty. Near the end of our negotiations, the CEOs almost walked away, until Alison suggested Brass get two votes whereas Billy and Lucy would each get one, as long as ties go to the defendant. Brass leapt at that offer, and we sealed the deal. Thankfully, I don¡¯t think Brass is very good at math. Her second vote is pointless. If ties go to the defender, we win if Billy and Lucy stay aligned regardless of Brass¡¯ extra vote.¡± Milly giggled at the thought of the wool pulled over Brass¡¯ eyes. The woman was highly ambitious, but there was a reason she was running an insignificant law firm based out of the dilapidated Castle of Glass. ¡°Alison and Elmer have our witnesses lined up. There were a few who were close enough to see the Carthage sisters attacking Passi. Rain and I will be there too. The only remaining question is whether you should attend.¡± ¡°I¡­ I should, right? The CEOs don¡¯t want me to attend so they can paint me as a malcontent,¡± Milly replied weakly. She went white at the thought of showing up. ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t think you should come, honey,¡± Calista said with compassion. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to put yourself through that. Not after what you went through. Rain and I can telepathically message you if things go south and we need you to make an appearance.¡± ¡°I¡­ okay, Cally,¡± Milly was quick to agree. ¡°I¡¯ll wait in the meadow until it is over. It¡¯ll¡­ distract me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine, my love,¡± Calista promised as she rubbed Milly¡¯s back. ¡°And, if it doesn¡¯t go well, then you and I can figure out how we go about punching Stone and Brass in their stupid faces.¡± Milly snorted with laughter, and a little tension left her. ¡°Yah, I¡¯d like that. I¡¯d like that a lot.¡± They spent the remainder of the evening together in the meadow. Rain spread a blanket next to the calming river, and Calista pulled a roasted goose dinner out of her inventory. Passi ran back and forth between the berry pushes, proudly depositing heaping handfuls of raspberries and blueberries onto the blanket for dessert. Milly collected dried branches from the woods across the river, and soon there was a roaring campfire that bathed them in warmth and light. They dined under the stars, gathered together as a family and basking in the love that flowed between them. She stayed cuddled together with Calista against the cold as Passi devoured the goose and Rain excitedly planned out her new workshop. It was everything Milly had ever wanted in life but never had the strength to hope for. She had that strength now. Milly would remember that night as the happiest night in her short, lonely life. A night of healing. A night of love. A night of family. But all nights must end. And tomorrows can change everything. Chapter 83 - Family "A mother''s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." Agatha Christie The gentle nudge on her shoulder stirred Milly from the depths of midnight slumber. She mumbled sleepy protestations at the intrusion into her dreams. ¡°Milly, wake up,¡± whispered Rain, her voice low so she would not disturb Calista. ¡°Huh? Rain?¡± Milly yawned as she cracked open her eyes. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Rain looked as if she hadn¡¯t slept. Her overly alert eyes with dark bags beneath told the story of a woman who had spent the hours after they had returned to the Castle of Glass in her workshop. ¡°That depends on your frame of mind,¡± Rain answered as Milly sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. ¡°And what you¡¯ll decide to do next.¡± ¡°What I¡¯ll decide¡­? Rain, I¡¯m too tired for riddles,¡± Milly grumbled as she slowly eased the blanket off her chest. Calista¡¯s snoring was on full display, so there was little chance of her rousing. Passi had decided to finally sleep in her own room tonight. ¡°Xavier¡¯s awake,¡± Rain said simply. ¡°Ying just let me know.¡± ¡°Xavier is¡­¡± It took a moment for Milly to register Rain¡¯s words through the sleepy haze in her head, but when they finally broke through, Milly was instantly fully awake. Now she knew why Rain didn¡¯t want to wake Calista. Xavier and Calista¡¯s mutual animosity stretched back far before the God Contest. Rain led Milly out of her bedroom and to their alchemy workshop before she said anything further. The alchemy tables were filled with bubbling brews and there were five bronze daggers set in an orderly row on the side table. ¡°I¡¯ve been enchanting them,¡± Rain explained as Milly¡¯s eyes flickered to the weapons. ¡°For throwing daggers. My advanced dagger specialization showed me I needed more diversity in my fighting style. These five are all fire enchanted. This one coats its blade in flame. That one shoots two small firebolts horizontally on impact, which is useful for fighting groups. That one on the end just explodes on impact.¡± Milly stared at the daggers, but her attention was on her former friend in the medical clinic. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Rain asked. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I must to keep everyone safe,¡± Milly replied with fridged determination. ¡°He saved my life, Mils,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°I can¡¯t forget that. Gorath would have killed me if Xavier hadn¡¯t fought tooth and nail to keep the beast away. Xavier got his head split open because he tried to protect me. That means something. He¡¯s not evil. He¡¯s lost, just like the rest of us.¡± ¡°He hurt Passi, Rain,¡± Milly countered coldly. ¡°She¡¯s so traumatized by her time with him that she won¡¯t speak a word of what happened. I think he¡­¡± ¡°Killed her clan, the Walking Palms?¡± Rain finished for her. ¡°Yes, I think that¡¯s the most likely scenario.¡± ¡°And you still defend him?¡± Milly accused, her voice raised. ¡°I know you tolerate him better than most, but he¡¯s become a monster.¡± ¡°Mils, you can shoot lightning from your hands. I use a dagger that poisons creatures and rots them from the inside. We¡¯ve both seen what Cally can do with that spear. How many monsters have we killed in the past three weeks? How many of those monsters died in horrible ways?¡± ¡°We were defending ourselves,¡± Milly refuted. ¡°Xavier crossed that line with Passi¡¯s clan.¡± ¡°Nothing is black and white in this contest, and we can¡¯t afford to separate ourselves into good guys and bad guys. We¡¯re all just trying to survive in this game. A game where only a few of us are likely to make it to the end,¡± Rain reasoned. ¡°Can you really blame Xavier for wanting to be one of them? He didn¡¯t know Passi¡¯s people were real. We didn¡¯t know that either, until a few days ago. As far as Xavier knew, the Fairies were just another programmed race in an artificial world designed to kill us.¡± ¡°So, we should just forget about it?¡± Milly¡¯s anger seemed to boil within her, ready to erupt. ¡°Xavier goes on being an asshole, and Passi lives her life in fear of him? What if he decides to finish the job? What happens when she goes back to the Fairies and we aren¡¯t here to protect her anymore?¡± Rain sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t have any answers for you, Mils. I just don¡¯t think we should be so quick to turn on one another.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to let Passi¡¯s childhood get taken away like mine did, Rain,¡± Milly promised. Her Obsidian Fists formed across her knuckles in response to her rage. ¡°I know what she is feeling, and I¡¯m going to do whatever it takes to protect her.¡± A tiny squeak broke through Rain and Milly¡¯s argument. Milly turned and saw Passiflora¡¯s translucent wing sticking out from behind the hallway corner.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Passi, come here, sweetheart,¡± Milly said, her anger evaporating in an instant. She knelt and held out her hands for the child. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Rain and I are just talking. Did we wake you?¡± Passiflora hesitated for a moment, then stepped out from around the corner and shambled into Milly¡¯s arms, embarrassed. She was dressed in blue and purple pajamas they had purchased from the Emporia. Rain had modified the shirt to fit her wings. ¡°How much did you hear, Passi?¡± Milly asked gently. She tried to stay calm, but inside her was a whirlwind of uncertainty. ¡°¡­ he¡¯s awake,¡± Passi said softly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to see him,¡± Milly promised. ¡°He¡¯ll still be in the medical clinic for a few days. I¡¯m sure Ying will pause your training until¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± shouted Passiflora desperately. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to stop. I need to do this.¡± ¡°Passi¡­,¡± Milly said hesitantly. ¡°I don¡¯t want you around him. It¡¯s not good for you to see him.¡± Passiflora scrunched her face up with determination. ¡°I can do it. I¡¯m not scared of him. Even after he¡­ even after he killed my clan and kidnapped me. I won¡¯t let him win.¡± There it is. She finally said it. Xavier killed her clan. But what do I do now? ¡°I hate him. I hate him so much,¡± Passi declared with insurmountable anger. ¡°I wish he was dead.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t know who your people were, Passi,¡± Rain tried to explain. ¡°He fought to save your people the battle, and he saved my life.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! He¡¯ll do it again. He¡¯ll kill my new family, and I¡¯ll be left all alone,¡± Passi said, as she shook with a mix of anger and fear. ¡°The Chief Elder wouldn¡¯t let that happen, Passi,¡± Milly assured her. ¡°What do the Fairies know about keeping themselves safe?¡± Passi ranted. ¡°They let themselves become prey to the wolves. They forgot about those taken as slaves. They should have fought back. They should kill the wolves, and you should just kill the evil man.¡± ¡°Passi!¡± Rain said, shocked at the child¡¯s declaration. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about the Fairies anyways¡­¡± Passi mumbled. ¡°They aren¡¯t my family¡­¡± ¡°Passi, I won¡¯t let Xavier hurt you,¡± Milly promised, though she knew it would be faint comfort to the child. She needed to deal with Xavier tonight. ¡°Rain and I are going to talk to Xavier now. We¡¯ll talk about this in the morning. Go back to bed and get some sleep.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Passiflora protested, tightening her grip on Milly¡¯s gown. ¡°Get some rest, sweetheart. Why don¡¯t you go crawl in beside Cally?¡± Milly insisted, but it just made Passi¡¯s grip stronger. ¡°Cally would agree with me,¡± Passi said softly, burying her face into Milly¡¯s gown as angry tears fell. ¡°She hates Xavier too.¡± Yes, Passi. She probably would. And I¡¯m not sure you are wrong. But I can¡¯t tell you that. You¡¯re just a child. Except for her choked backed sobs, Passi sat there in silence for a few minutes, until another tension settled over the child. ¡°What is it, Passi?¡± Milly prompted. She could see the child had more on her mind than just Xavier. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave¡­¡± she said, soft as a mouse. ¡°Leave? Sweetheart, leave what?¡± ¡°¡­ leave you. I don¡¯t want to go back to the Fairies after my apprenticeship. I want to stay with you and Cally. Forever.¡± ¡°Passi¡­¡± Milly whispered, as her heart filled with a powerful, protective love. ¡°My grandfather raised me,¡± Passi said, as she forced out each word through her tears. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know my parents. They were taken by wolves when I was a baby. Sometimes, in my dreams, I can remember how it felt to be held in their arms. It¡¯s the same feeling I get when¡­ when you hold me. I feel safe¡­ and loved. I feel like I belong. I don¡¯t want to go back to the Fairies. I want to stay here with you.¡± ¡°Passi, sweetheart, you are loved,¡± Milly assured her, pulling her in tight. ¡°You¡¯ll always be loved, and I¡¯ll always be here for you.¡± ¡°Milly¡­ can you¡­ you¡­¡± Passi stammered, as she desperately tried to ask the most important question of her life. ¡°Can¡­ can you be my new mom?¡± The fairy child¡¯s question pierced straight into Milly¡¯s heart. In another life, in another world, Milly had been Passi¡¯s age when she had asked her first foster mother, Becky, the same question. She could remember how anxious she¡¯d been. How desperately she needed the answer to be yes, so she could finally feel like she belonged somewhere. How much she needed the stability and certainty that only love could provide. Milly had been cared for by Becky for the first three years after her parents died. The thin-haired elderly woman and her husband ran a state-funded foster home that Milly shared with three other children, though the children were constantly rotating in and out of the home. It was her foster mother¡¯s business, but Milly, as a child, didn¡¯t know the difference. Becky had looked the young Milly in the eye, and a chill had run down Milly¡¯s back. ¡°No, honey,¡± Becky had said with a resounding sigh. ¡°No, I won¡¯t be your mom. And you shouldn¡¯t ask that again. You¡¯ve never get the answer you¡¯re looking for.¡± It had crushed Milly to her core, and within the month Milly was moved to her second foster home. She never saw Becky again. She had learned a valuable lesson that day. Never ask for love. It was a lesson that had taken a death game in another world to finally unravel. ¡°¡­ Yes, Passi. Yes, I¡¯ll be your mom,¡± Milly promised, as she clutched the child and kissed her forehead. ¡°Of course I will.¡± In that moment, amidst the sound of Rain¡¯s gasp and Passi¡¯s elated silence, and after so many years, Milly¡¯s family ¨C Milly¡¯s heart ¨C was finally complete. It all happened so fast. Three weeks ago, I was a lonely girl without purpose. Now, in this new world, I¡¯m a girlfriend and mother. I know it should feel like it all moved too fast, but it doesn¡¯t. It just feels¡­ right. As if this life ¨C this family ¨C was where I was always meant to be. ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you, Mils,¡± Rain said, embracing new mother and daughter in a tight hug. Passi was so happy she forgot all about her anger with Rain. Milly cradled Passi in her arms for a long while they cried happy tears. Eventually, Milly felt her new daughter¡¯s grip on her dress weaken, and the child¡¯s soft snores began to rumble against her chest. The overwhelming mix of anger, joy, and exhaustion had finally claimed the child, and she fell asleep in her mother¡¯s arms. Milly carefully cradled Passi against her chest and headed to her and Cally¡¯s bedroom. She placed Passi gently on the bed, careful to spread out her wings just how she knew Passi liked, and tucked her in. Milly looked at Rain. Rain nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Rain. I need to make it perfectly clear to Xavier what will happen to him if he lays a single finger my daughter,¡± Milly said with cold determination. They stepped into the elevator and headed down to the clinic. * * * Passiflora waited a full ten seconds until she was certain her new mother and Rain were gone. Sneaking out of bed, Calista¡¯s deep snores providing ample cover, Passiflora headed for Rain¡¯s workshop and grasped the nearest enchanted throwing dagger. It looked oversized in the fairy child¡¯s tiny hands. She hid it under the pillows in her tent, her eyes blazing with fierce determination. ¡°I won¡¯t let him take away my family,¡± Passiflora promised. ¡°I won¡¯t let him hurt anyone ever again.¡± Chapter 84 - Ultimatum of a Mother Xaver sat upright in his cot, the small wolf pup on his lap, as Milly and Rain arrived at the clinic. Milly found it disconcerting to see the man absentmindedly stroking his familiar¡¯s furry head while he stared forlornly out the window. It was the most affection Milly had ever seen from her former friend. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re finally awake, Xavier,¡± Rain said genuinely as she plopped herself on the end of his cot. Xavier glanced over at Rain and Milly. He stopped petting the puppy and ignored the creature¡¯s insistent head bumps that asked for more. ¡°The healer woman told me you¡¯d survived,¡± Xavier replied. His voice cracked from lack of use. ¡°You¡¯re a tough one.¡± Rain tapped his leg. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who is tough. Thank you for saving me back there. It was very brave.¡± ¡°¡­ Gorath was worth a lot of experience,¡± Xavier said dismissively, though Milly could see an uncomfortableness in his eyes at Rain¡¯s gratitude. This man ¨C who had been self-centered for as long as Milly had known him ¨C struggled to take the compliment. ¡°It wasn¡¯t all about you, Rain.¡± ¡°Well, that just means some of it was about me,¡± Rain replied, skillfully dodging Xavier¡¯s attempts to distance himself. Caught speechless, all Xavier could do was shrug. This isn¡¯t the same Xavier I knew back at Acicentre, or even from the Arena. I don¡¯t know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. And, frankly, I don¡¯t have the luxury of time to find out. Not anymore. ¡°When will you get out of the clinic?¡± Rain asked him. ¡°Day after tomorrow,¡± Xavier said. He shifted uncomfortably on his cot, which caused his familiar to hop off his lap. The puppy bounded across the cot, sniffed Rain¡¯s hand, and gave her a lick. Rain started scratching the creature¡¯s head, and it wagged its tail excitedly. ¡°I like your new puppy. Your prize from Tutoria? I saw this little guy in my own dream, but I went with the grey cat instead. His name¡¯s Anchovy. Did you name this guy yet?¡± ¡°¡­ Cerberus,¡± Xavier responded. Milly rolled her eyes. ¡°He¡¯ll be powerful when he grows up,¡± continued Xavier. ¡°It was the best prize Tutoria had. At least, he was the best I could buy with only five points.¡± There was envy in his voice. Envy and something else? Worry? He didn¡¯t even make it to the main battle. He knows we all got more points and better prizes than he did. He¡¯s realized he is not as powerful as he thought he was, and that scares the shit out of him. As Rain and Xavier continued to make awkward conversation, Milly studied her former friend. In truth, Milly didn¡¯t know what to make of Xavier anymore. Before the contest, he had been self-centered but tolerable, at least to her. Like many of their coworkers, Xavier did not have a good life. He was as alone as she was, and they became, at least on the surface, the closest thing to friends that either one of them had. When the contest began, Xavier was so excited. It was his dream come true ¨C to live his life in a video game. He¡¯d taken her under his wing and showed her the basics. He¡¯d given her the bravery she needed to venture beyond the tower. Without Xavier, she would have been no different than Minerva ¨C scared and waiting for a CEO to kick her from the tower. Yet as the contest went on, Xavier grew more competitive. More desperate. He¡¯d left her behind ¨C left everyone behind ¨C to go it alone, believing everyone would just slow him down. He¡¯d been so certain that his video game expertise would make him the most powerful player in this game. It had certainly helped, and he had grown quickly, yet it had not been the boon he thought it would be. Milly had saved him from the goblin. Calista had taken down the giant centipede. Rain had done the critical damage to Gorath and Milly had finished him off. Xavier, the gamer, had been saved over and over again by three women whom he believed lacked the expertise and drive that he uniquely possessed to be the victor, as he had been in so many video games back in their old lives. Each time they had saved him, it had driven him further away, and let more of his anger take over. Did I see his true colors at the Arena of Choice when he tried to take all our rewards? Or did something happened in that Arena that drove him over the edge? While the Contest had changed Xavier, as it has changed all of us, it was the Arena of Choice that truly transformed him into what he is now. That was the moment our paths truly diverged. Milly had seen such a transformation once before when she lived on the streets. There had been a young man that she¡¯d see at the soup kitchen. He had been kind once, despite the abuse he had fled from. But he¡¯d found his solace in drugs. Over the course of a few months, Milly had watched that once kind man deteriorate day-by-day. He became angry and hostile, and abusive in his own right. He¡¯d had lucid, sober moments when his true personality shined through, yet he always returned to the drugs, and those moments became fewer and further between. In the end, the addiction claimed him fully, and no one had mourned his passing.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Xavier reminded her of that man. An addict, only his drug of choice was power. She remembered Xavier¡¯s black blade, and she wondered what god her former friend had met in that cave at the Arena of Choice. What god had sent him down this path of self-destruction? Milly wished she could help him. She wished she could have her friend back. But three weeks is a long time in the God Contest. She was a girlfriend and a mother now, and the safety of her family trumped any loyalty she had once felt to the injured man before her. ¡°If you pop by Rain On My Parade when you get out of the clinic, I¡¯ll fill you in on what you missed,¡± Rain concluded, giving the puppy one final scratch as she stood up. ¡°I¡¯ve made a potion for you, as well. It¡¯s what we discussed before you left.¡± ¡°Yah¡­ sure¡­,¡± Xavier said half-heartedly. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Rain glanced at Milly, worry in her eyes. ¡°Be kind, Milly,¡± Rain said telepathically to her. ¡°We¡¯re all in this together, remember.¡± Milly didn¡¯t respond. She gave Rain a quick hug and watched her head over to the elevator. A quiet tension fell over the medical clinic as the elevator closed. ¡°Some game, huh?¡± Xavier mumbled, as if desperate to fill the silence. ¡°If we could do it all over again¡­¡± ¡°You killed Passi¡¯s clan,¡± Milly said coldly as she cut him off. It was a statement of fact that left no room for debate. ¡°What?¡± Xavier replied, confused. ¡°You mean that little fucking fairy monster? Why do you¡­¡± The shard of ice that shot from Milly¡¯s palm embedded in the wall behind Xavier¡¯s ear. He reached up and touched his earlobe, and his finger came away with a touch of blood. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever¡­ ever... speak about her like that,¡± Milly spat with a fury she had never known. ¡°You destroyed her life. You scarred her more deeply than you could possibly know.¡± ¡°Have you gone mental?¡± accused Xavier, as he healed the cut on his cheek with his healer¡¯s touch. ¡°She¡¯s just a fucking monster!¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s not,¡± spewed Milly, her anger in control of her words. ¡°None of the fairies are. They are real, just like you and me. A new species, stuck in this game alongside us. Only they don¡¯t know it¡¯s a game.¡± ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s not¡­ I was told¡­,¡± Xavier stammered, his face a mask of utter confusion as Milly¡¯s declaration sunk in. ¡°How do you even know that?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t fucking matter how I know it, Xavier. It¡¯s true. They are real, and you killed them.¡± ¡°Well¡­ how was I supposed to know that? They look like monsters to me, and this game is all about killing monsters,¡± Xavier tried to justify. ¡°How many monsters have you killed? How do you know some of those weren¡¯t real?¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t. It¡¯s just the Fairies and us,¡± Milly insisted, though Xavier¡¯s questions raised a tinge of doubt within her that cracked through her anger. Xavier face was filled with both anger and, to Milly¡¯s surprise, an increasingly intense sense of guilt. His anger wasn¡¯t directed at Milly though. It was directed at the black ring on his finger. ¡°I guess you want an explanation. Or are you looking for an apology?¡± Xavier inferred. ¡°No, Xavier,¡± Milly said coldly before he could try either one. ¡°I want you gone. Tonight. I don¡¯t want to see you anywhere near Passi or Cally. Go back to the wilds and stay away from the fairies.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, Milly,¡± Xavier protested. ¡°You can¡¯t do that. You¡¯re not fucking in charge around here. You¡­¡± Milly¡¯s shot her arm out, and she lifted Xavier into the air by the throat using her telekinesis. She dangled him there, as his legs flailed and his hands desperately grasped at the invisible force around his neck. Cerberus yipped loudly and tried to rush for Milly¡¯s ankles to defend his master. Milly used channeled through her second hand and forced the puppy flat to the ground. Xavier glanced towards his new familiar, and his efforts to free himself doubled. After half a minute, once Xavier realized he could not get free, Milly let the telekinesis fade. Xavier crashed down onto his cot, coughing. The wound on his chest reopened, and a trickle of blood began to soak into his shirt. Cerberus scampered over to his master. He stood defensively in front of the prone man and growled at Milly. ¡°You¡­ you bitch¡­,¡± Xavier spat between coughs. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ make you pay¡­ for that.¡± ¡°No, Xavier, you won¡¯t,¡± Milly said defiantly. ¡°You were stronger than me once, but I¡¯ve far surpassed you. You pose as much threat to me as that familiar of yours.¡± Xavier looked towards his former friend and saw the absolute certainty in her eyes. He changed tactics. ¡°Give¡­ give me my sword then, and I¡¯ll leave the day after next,¡± he bargained. ¡°You have it, right? My black blade?¡± There it was. Xavier¡¯s addiction. Milly had suspected it could be the source. She had tasted its power once before when she had drained Gorath, and even that small taste had ignited within her a wish for another. ¡°If you don¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯ll die in the wilds,¡± Xavier added, growing more desperate. ¡°Then you¡¯ll be the murderer here, not me. You¡¯ll have murdered your friend.¡± Milly just stared at him coldly. ¡°It was given to me by a god, just the same as Rain and Calista. It¡¯s meant to be mine,¡± Xavier added. ¡°You have no right to take it from me.¡± Milly withdrew the black blade from her inventory and held it in her hands. She could feel its dark power in her hands. It called to her, and she knew its connection to Xavier must be that much stronger. She considered for a long while, watching Xavier¡¯s eyes, fixed on the blade, grow more desperate with every second that passed. ¡°Who was the god?¡± Milly finally asked. This time, it was Xavier that considered for a long while. She watched him subtly slip the black ring off his finger and stuff it in his pocket. ¡°Cizen,¡± Xavier finally muttered. ¡°Some Mayan god of the dead.¡± The revelation struck Milly like an hammer. Cizen? The third architect of the thirteenth God Contest? I find Oracle¡¯s memories, Rain becomes Hephaestus¡¯ prot¨¦g¨¦, and now Xavier is connected to Cizen? This can¡¯t be a coincidence. This is important, and I can¡¯t ignore what it could mean. Do I take the risk? Milly tossed the blade at Xavier¡¯s feet. He looked up at her with surprise. ¡°If you use it against any person or fairy ¨C ever ¨C I will kill you. Do I make myself perfectly clear?¡± Milly threatened, and she left no doubt about the seriousness of her pledge. ¡°Yah¡­ yah, I get it,¡± Xavier said, his hands caressing the blade. ¡°I won¡¯t. Only monsters.¡± Milly walked towards the elevator, her point made. ¡°The¡­ the whip,¡± Xavier said as she pressed the call button. ¡°What?¡± Milly asked, not bothering to turn to face him. ¡°Gorath¡¯s whip. I need it for Cerberus,¡± Xavier said. ¡°That¡¯s cruel,¡± Milly scolded. ¡°He¡¯ll grow big. As big as Fairy Killer was, and Gorath needed that whip to control the beast. You don¡¯t want Cerberus going after those fairies because I can¡¯t control him, right?¡± Xavier explained. Milly opened her inventory and took out the solid black whip. She dropped it unceremoniously at her feet as the elevator doors opened. As she left the clinic, headed for home, Milly saw Xavier, still cradling the blade in his lap, slip the black ring out of his pocket and place it back on his finger. She shuttered as she remembered the decayed god from the memory orb. Cizen. It would explain much. How much of Xavier¡¯s behavior is his own, and how much is driven by the touch of that god? Chapter 85 – The People vs Milly Persephone Brown Milly finished the animal pen at the southeastern corner of the meadow as the sun rose high into the sky. Its stone walls were four feet high, and it was large enough to contain a small herd of goats. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not goats we¡¯re going to raise,¡± Milly said aloud. She opened her inventory and, very carefully, withdrew one of the frozen Manifold Toads and placed it in the enclosure. As she waited for the toad to thaw, her thoughts drifted to what lay ahead. It was the day of the trial. Her trial. Milly headed to the meadow at first light, careful to avoid any wayward eyes that might see her leave. There will be enough drama today without rumors that the Witch of the Castle of Glass was trying to flee. Which, I guess, in a way, I am. But Elmer and Alison have a plan, and I¡¯m not part of it. I would just get in the way. The toad twitched its hind leg as it began to thaw. Milly readied ice magic in her palm in case it tried to attack. With the other hand, she used earth magic to churn the land beside the river to create a mud pit for the toads. It was slow work, and her mind drifted to this morning. Milly had woken up next to Calista and her new daughter before the sun had crested over the eastern ocean. After Calista stirred, the little one still fast asleep between them, Milly had told her about Passi and the decision from last night. It had taken Calista a few minutes to overcome her astonishment, surprised at how quickly it had happened, but once she had recovered, the girlfriends had embraced and shed happy tears on each other¡¯s shoulders. When Passi finally woke, the tears started anew, and they hugged each other as a family. Calista, true to her word, was fully supportive of Milly¡¯s decision and, though she was not ready yet to call herself a mother, she promised to protect the fairy child with all her strength. Milly had been able to bask in the joy for a whole fifteen minutes, until Milly and Passiflora¡¯s first mother-daughter fight broke out. ¡°I want you here, in our home,¡± Milly said, concerned for her daughter¡¯s safety. ¡°You can go back to the clinic to resume your lessons tomorrow. I don¡¯t want you around Xavier. I don¡¯t trust him.¡± ¡°I can handle myself. You can¡¯t tell me what to do,¡± Passi countered. ¡°Well¡­ I can, I guess. I¡¯m your mom now. It¡¯s my job to keep you safe,¡± Milly said, trying to sound firm but coming across uncertain. It was not a productive mix. ¡°So¡­ no, you can¡¯t go. Not today.¡± Passiflora had stomped off to her bedroom with all the fury that a human child would have possessed. ¡°I¡¯d put her temper equivalent to¡­ about nine-years-old, in human years,¡± Rain had diagnosed, trying to hold back her chuckles. ¡°At least compared to my brothers. Passi is seven, by Twotongue¡¯s estimation, but the fairies seem to mature slightly faster than humans.¡± ¡°Milly, you handled that¡­ um¡­ well, you¡¯ll get the hang of it, beautiful,¡± Calista had added, though she, unlike Rain, had made no attempted to hide her laughter. ¡°Being a mom is hard.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Milly said, and Calista and Rain¡¯s laughter abruptly stopped. ¡°I never had a mom. I have no idea what I am doing.¡± ¡°Mils,¡± Rain had comforted. ¡°I think that makes you the same as every other mom out there. You¡¯ll figure it out in time.¡± The Manifold Toad shook the ice from its back, and Milly set aside the memory of the morning and resumed her vigil over the beast. It shouldn¡¯t be able to attack me in my meadow. I hope. It will either try to flee, or it¡¯ll choose to stick around. If it¡¯s the latter, we¡¯ve got the beginnings of a monster farm. Rain¡¯ll have all the ingredients she needs for her alchemy, especially if we can capture other kinds of rare monsters. This part of the God Contest could actually be fun. Assuming this works. She could use a bit of fun right now. Xavier wasn¡¯t the only reason she wanted Passi to stay home today. Alison and Elmer wanted Passi to testify at the trial this afternoon, but Milly let them know, in no uncertain terms, that would never happen. Milly wanted the fairy child to stay out of sight until everything calmed down. My foster father¡¯s trial destroyed me, and I never recovered. I won¡¯t have Passi become damaged like I was. And I won¡¯t let her become a pawn in the CEOs¡¯ stupid game. I¡¯d kill them all before I let them harm a single hair on her precious head. Milly was so shocked by the thought that she missed the Manifold Toad shaking free of the last of the frost. It glanced up at her, gave a little toady shrug, and bounded over to the mud pit beside the river. Snatching an errant dragonfly from the air, it buried itself into the mud and decided this was its new home. It gave little thought to the strange witch beyond its protective stone wall. Kill them? I threatened to kill Xavier last night too if he hurt Passi. What am I becoming? Is this who I am as a mother? As a girlfriend? Does having a family change me that much? Milly left the question unanswered, worried she knew the answer. Maybe Rain is right, and a guerrilla war will keep the CEOs at bay. This trial will tell us if she is. Or perhaps Calista is right, and we should just fight them and get it over with. I just don¡¯t know. Which way will it play out? Perhaps we will always be at each other¡¯s throats, and the God Contest will eliminate us one-by-one until no one is left. Far down the valley, a tiny stone on a mountain peak dislodged in the winds. The tiny change to the landscape started an avalanche that crashed down the slope, careening through trees and shrubs and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Milly watched its resulting dust cloud rise into the air, until Calista¡¯s telepathic update arrived. ¡°Honey, you there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, Cally,¡± Milly responded. She glanced over at the enclosure and saw the Manifold Toad half buried in the mud, dragonfly wings sticking out of its broad, happy mouth. ¡°Our little experiment worked. The Manifold Toad settled right in. No hostility. I¡¯ll thaw the other ones this afternoon.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Rain chimed in telepathically. ¡°I¡¯ve got a ton of recipes I want to try out with that hallucinogenic excretion. It is a perfect base for some rarer psychiatric disorder medications a couple players have approached me about. Everyone¡¯s pretty much out of their meds by now.¡± ¡°How are things on your end?¡± Milly asked anxiously. Calista¡¯s telepathic sigh rumbled in her head. ¡°It¡¯s as much a circus as a trial. Brass set up the judge¡¯s panel on Shufflebottom¡¯s stage. She¡¯s wearing full on black judge¡¯s robes and swings around that gavel of hers like she¡¯s the most important person in the world. She keeps moving the chairs though, apparently dissatisfied with its ¡®lack of grandiosity¡¯, and she just sent Hana to fetch her ¡®special chair¡¯, which, apparently, is taller than the ones Billy and Lucy will sit on. She¡¯s completely, utterly, batshit crazy, Milly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually quite interesting to watch,¡± Rain chimed in with a laugh. ¡°It makes you wonder how together the CEOs actually are. Stone is clearly irritated at Brass for her antics, and Shufflebottom just grabbed his guitar and marched down to the beach. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s planning to come back until it is over. He kept mumbling how the trial will mess up the ambiance of his stage.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°He might be the only one to miss seeing the trial,¡± Calista added. ¡°There must be over six hundred people gathered on the beach to watch this farce. I saw Edna and Cynthia Carthage working the crowd, trying to get it riled up. Alison and Elmer have planted their own people in the crowd to do the same. I think this is the first time we¡¯ve had this many people gathered together.¡± ¡°And everyone is there for me,¡± groaned Milly sarcastically. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just great. I¡¯m so glad I could bring everyone together like this.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re anxious, honey,¡± Calista comforted. ¡°You just stay in the meadow while we take care of this, okay? Tonight, after all this is over, I want to see the cabin you built for us this morning. We can grab little miss temper tantrum and spend a couple days out there and really make it our own. Passi can stuff her face full of berries, and Rain can start experimenting with that toad skin.¡± ¡°Toad excretion,¡± corrected Rain. ¡°The toad skin is a different ingredient.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s really important, my love. Our time together as a family. Not these mind games that Stone and Brass are putting us through,¡± Calista finished. Milly smiled. ¡°I¡¯d like that, Cally. I think I need that.¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re about to start. I¡¯ve got to go. I love you, Milly.¡± ¡°I love you too, Cally. Rain, take care of her for me.¡± ¡°I always do,¡± Rain promised. ¡°We¡¯ll see you soon, Mils.¡± Milly¡¯s mind went silent. A soft croak bubbled out from the mud. ¡°Alright, my new friend,¡± Milly said to the toad. ¡°I¡¯ve got my family. Let¡¯s get yours thawed out.¡± She looked towards the waterfall, where the system backdoor rested behind the waters. Her path to Luna. ¡°And then I have somewhere else I need to be.¡± * * * ¡°Order! Order! I call this trial to order!¡± bellowed Judy Brass, as she sat a foot higher than Billy and Lucy in her special chair. The crowd was so large that her voice was lost in the chatter before it reached the audience¡¯s third row. Coworkers ¨C from all factions ¨C were talking excitedly amongst each other. Friends and coworkers had finally gathered after weeks apart, with tales of adventure and wonder to share. ¡°We should have brought everyone together sooner, outside of the funerals¡± Calista whispered to Rain as they observed the crowd. ¡°We forget that most people don¡¯t give a shit about what their bosses are up to. They never have. They just want to spend time with their friends.¡± ¡°Even in a death game, people are still people,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°They don¡¯t get involved in politics. They just want to survive.¡± ¡°I said shut the hell up!¡± Brass commanded. She slammed her enchanted gavel on the table and the blow created a shockwave that boomed over the top of the crowd. The table splintered in half and collapsed. Calista snorted, then erupted into a fit of laughter as Bill rolled his eyes, opened his inventory, and pulled out another table. Effortlessly carrying it over his head, he casually kicked the fragments of the first table off the stage and set the new table down with a mighty thump. ¡°There. Maybe don¡¯t break this one, Judy,¡± Billy told Brass. She shot him a look of utter hatred, which Billy returned with a mocking air kiss. ¡°Perhaps we can get this started?¡± Lucy suggested impatiently, her eyes flickering back to her orchard. Alison had called in an old favor to get her to sit on the panel, but she wanted it over as soon as possible. Her apple orchard needed its daily dose of growth magic, and she was agonizingly close to level fifteen. ¡°Very well. This is the case of the People verses Milly Persephone Brown, also known as The Witch of the Castle of Glass,¡± Brass recited, the crowd now anxious in their silence. ¡°She stands accused of viciously assaulting Edna Carthage, level seventeen, Cynthia Carthage, level seventeen, and Hana Hall, level one, three days ago, on this very beach. It was an unprovoked attack that put all of us at risk. This erratic and dangerous individual ¨C this loose cannon ¨C will be brought to justice here today. Does the accused stand ready to be judged before this Court?¡± ¡°As if she¡¯d show up for this farce, Brass,¡± shouted Calista from the crowd. Rain hooted her agreement, and a spattering of Freelancers and friends joined her. ¡°Of course Ms. Brown would abscond from this trial. After all, that is what guilty people do,¡± Brass countered. In the crowd, Edna and Cynthia hissed and booed and prompted others to do the same. The majority of those gathered on the beach stayed silent, undecided, and unwilling to risk the ire of either faction. ¡°This afternoon, you will hear from an array of witnesses who saw the accosting of these three fine individuals. You will hear from others who know Ms. Brown to be an uncontrollable menace. At the end of it all, we three judges will render our verdict, and the sentence we give shall be carried out. You will see us finally control this woman, so you, our valuable employees, no longer need to watch your backs for fear she will skewer it with her lightning or scorch it with her fire.¡± ¡°Only if she is found guilty, you old hag,¡± Elmer interrupted, as the leader of the Freelancers marched up the stairs to the stage. ¡°And I know, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that she is not. She is a kind and generous soul, and we will prove that here today, once and for all.¡± The Freelancers in the crowd cheered, and Elmer built on the momentum. He launched into his opening speech. ¡°The Witch of the Castle of Glass? Of course I know her. You know her too, as you know her friends, Calista - The Huntress ¨C and Rain ¨C the Alchemist and proprietor of Rain On My Parade. Milly has healed you. She¡¯s fed you. She¡¯s protected you. For those of us who are fortunate enough to know her better than most, she is our savior, not our Satan. And many of us would not be here today if not for her.¡± Elmer stopped to let his words sink into the silence of the crowd, giving each and every person time to digest his declaration. ¡°During those first days, while we were scared and huddled in our cubicles, on the verge of starvation, Milly was out there in the wilds, charting the course that would become the path for our survival. She was brave, but make no mistake, she was as scared are you were.¡± Calista had never seen Elmer this passionate and eloquent. This was Elmer the lawyer ¨C the former employee of Legal Eagles ¨C in his element. This afternoon, when so much was on the line, Elmer tapped into every ounce of skill he possessed ¨C both legal and theatrical ¨C to defend Milly and undermine the CEOs. ¡°Here it comes,¡± muttered Rain. ¡°Time to call a spade a spade.¡± ¡°Milly was the poor girl that life abandoned. Like so many of you, she was trying to find her feet at Acicenter. She wanted a new life, filled with meaning and love, as we all do,¡± Elmer boomed out to the crowd. ¡°But this socially awkward, lonely girl, dressed all in black, was an easy target for the CEOs¡¯ political games. I was there that day in the lobby, when the CEOs were handing out our job assignments, as if their former positions at their companies still mattered in this new world. Do you remember that? Do you recall signing up for an assignment? Perhaps you can be forgiven for missing the small exchange that set in motion the very dynamics that brought us here today ¨C a people fractured, seeking to punish an innocent girl. Elmer drove the dagger home. ¡°Stone and Brass took one look at Milly ¨C the strange girl who dared to be braver than any of us ¨C and they saw an opportunity to turn her into an object of hate. And they succeeded, because you and I let them succeed.¡± Elmer let his words rinse over the crowd, and waiting until the murmurs had died down before he finished his opening. ¡°That day, Stone and Brass cast Milly in the role of the demon. Not the scared girl she was, but an object for us to fear. And in that fear, they bound you to them ¨C the all-powerful CEOs, who were the only ones who could save you from the Witch of the Castle of Glass and the horrors of this world. They declared Milly an ¡®enemy of the tower¡¯, and with innumerable whispers they solidified that narrative in your mind. They made you believe that Milly¡¯s bravery was wrong. That it was something to dread. That her kindness should be met with suspicion and answered with hatred. This trial ¨C this farce ¨C isn¡¯t about Milly. It¡¯s nothing more than a continuation of their efforts to use her to control you. Because without that control, their dreams of superiority will crumble beneath them.¡± Elmer turned and faced Brass, fire in his eyes. ¡°This trial isn¡¯t about Milly. It¡¯s about all of us. It¡¯s about who we are after today. Will we be scared employees that allow ourselves to be manipulated by a few, or will we be players, and finally start thinking for ourselves?¡± If Brass¡¯ gavel hadn¡¯t been magically enchanted, her furious grip would surely have snapped it in half. ¡°I stand with Milly because she embodies what we should all be. Strong. Brave. Honest, and true. So bring on this hearing, and let¡¯s hear from the witnesses,¡± Elmer announced, turning back to the crowd. ¡°And, by the end, you will stand with her too. Together ¨C all of us, together ¨C will give Milly the vindication she so rightfully deserves.¡± Calista¡¯s heart filled with pride for her girlfriend, and she wiped away a tear. She hadn¡¯t realized how captivated she¡¯d been by Elmer speech and, as she scanned the crowd, she wasn¡¯t the only one. Those who had grown to know Milly cheered enthusiastically, and those who did not squirmed uncomfortably where they sat. ¡°You gave us this opportunity, you fuckers,¡± whispered Calista with determination. ¡°Now watch us use it to take away the power you¡¯ve so desperately used Milly to build.¡± Billy smirked. ¡°Well, Brass, that¡¯s a hell of a start. I¡¯m actually looking forward to this now. Why don¡¯t you call your our witness?¡± Brass stared daggers at her former employee and called Edna Carthage up to the stage. Milly¡¯s trial had begun. Chapter 86 - The Trial Begins Luna was waiting for Milly when the system backdoor deposited her upside down in the storage closet adjacent to the Monitoring Room. A squeal of delight erupted from the child at the appearance of her only friend. The AI Director had grown in the week since Milly had last visited. Luna looked just shy of six years old, and she now wore a black butterfly print skirt and a long-sleeved top with an anime-style rendition of Passiflora cuddling with Anchovy and Cerberus on the front. Milly¡¯s black hoodie was tied around her waist, its sleeves dangling down to her ankles. Her white hair, grown to the small of her back, was tied neatly together in a single ponytail and pulled through the back of a blue ballcap with the words ¡°I¡¯m the boss. Do what I say!¡±. ¡°Milly!¡± shouted Luna excitedly. Milly had hardly turned herself upright when the child threw her arms around Milly¡¯s neck in a tight hug. ¡°Oof. Hey Luna,¡± Milly smiled as she returned the hug. ¡°You¡¯ve grown again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the players¡¯ fault,¡± complained Luna. ¡°The more you advance in the contest, the older I get. When you won your Arena and the others won the Arena of Domination, I aged a year overnight. It¡¯s weird to wake up and suddenly need to materialize a new wardrobe.¡± ¡°At least you can do that,¡± laughed Milly. ¡°Try wearing the same hoodie and gown for weeks on end. I don¡¯t know how Cally puts up with me.¡± ¡°At least you figured out how to use your water magic to shower,¡± Luna giggled. She hesitated, a thought bubbling to the surface, and then burst out. ¡°I really like Passi, Milly.¡± ¡°I gathered that from your shirt,¡± Milly laughed, pointing to the picture on her shirt. ¡°I like her too. You¡¯ll be the same age as Passi pretty soon. I bet you would be friends, though¡­ I guess that¡¯s not possible.¡± Luna¡¯s face fell, as if the thought hadn¡¯t occurred to her. She unwrapped her arms from around Milly¡¯s neck and stepped back. Can Luna leave this place? Or is she tethered to these screens? Given her reaction, it¡¯s the latter. Poor girl. How lonely would she have been if I hadn¡¯t stumbled into this place? ¡°Umm¡­ your trial is starting. Do you want to watch?¡± Luna asked uncertainly. ¡°Well, I came here to see you,¡± Milly answered, and Luna beamed brightly. ¡°We could watch if you want, or we could just talk or play?¡± Luna nodded enthusiastically and moved to the closet door. She peered back at Milly over her shoulder. ¡°Passi is lucky to have you as a mom,¡± she said, a note of longing in her voice. She cracked the door open, and they peeked through. The Monitoring Room had grown even larger, with over ten thousand monitors and twenty Tutorias darting across the warehouse-sized complex. The panels were spread along the wall and in a dozen rows between. It resembled a military control room in the midst of a war. She recognized a few the feeds broadcasting into the complex. The fairies¡¯ mass graveyard. Her meadow. The orchard where she had rescued the fairies. The shadow dragon asleep in its mountain home. An entire wall was dedicated to the Castle of Glass. Yet for every feed she recognized, there were a thousand that showed undiscovered wonders across the world. One monitor showed Nobori as he decorated a small cave on the outskirts of the Inlet of New Beginnings. He placed a wooden carving on a rocky shelf, which distinctly resembled a certain Witch of the Castle of Glass. ¡°God damn it, Nobori,¡± Milly muttered. ¡°I told you to knock off that goddess shit. This is the opposite of knocking it off.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not the only worshipper,¡± Luna whispered with a little chuckle. ¡°He¡¯s found himself another half dozen followers.¡± Milly groaned. I¡¯ll have to deal with that tomorrow. That''s the last thing I need right now. The Tutorias that scuttled between monitors wore the same black dress pants, white collared shirt, and black bowtie as before, but instead of individualized characteristics like the first eight Tutoria¡¯s had, all the subsequently added Tutorias simply had a nametag with a five-digit employee number. Milly glanced at the nearest Tutoria. ¡°Tutoria #00788. Hey, wasn¡¯t that the Tutoria I was assigned when the Contest started?¡± ¡°You mean the one you didn¡¯t bother to learn from?¡± Luna teased. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her. She was redeployed after you completed the first phase of the God Contest. For now, she¡¯s a monitor, until she is needed elsewhere. There are thousands upon thousands of Tutorias out there, each responsible for various aspects of the contest. They are supposed to be my helpers, but, you know¡­¡± Luna pointed to the slogan on her hat.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°But sometimes employes have a mind of their own,¡± Milly finished, thinking about the Freelancers breaking away from the CEOs¡¯ control. ¡°We certainly do.¡± ¡°Yah, it¡¯s getting harder to control them,¡± Luna admitted. ¡°They grow more independent each time another Tutoria is added. That¡¯s what happened with the prize Tutoria. I didn¡¯t tell her to enter Rain and Xavier¡¯s dreams. She just really, really didn¡¯t like you dropping her in a lake, and she took matters into her own hands. I don¡¯t know why she was so upset. I thought it was funny.¡± Milly knew Luna didn¡¯t directly control the Tutorias. Perhaps that¡¯s because Oracle didn¡¯t create them. Cizen did, as a last-minute addition, supposedly to help Luna function. But this was the god who built this game¡¯s secrets. What if the Tutorias decide to stop listening to Luna? ¡°I don¡¯t want them to know you are here. I¡¯ll create a distraction, and you head to my room,¡± Luna said as she ducked out of the closet. Milly considered the child as she waited for the distraction. The Luna she had visited a week ago had felt like two separate personalities ¨C the powerful AI Director and the emotional four-year-old. This six-year-old version of Luna seemed to be a merger of the two. She was still a child, but a remarkable capable one. Luna had started to come to terms with herself and her role in life. Though Milly could still sense the loneliness hidden beneath the brave face the child wore. ¡°Quite down, you lot!¡± shouted Luna from the monitoring room, her high-pitched voice carrying across the warehouse of screens. ¡°Gather around me. Yes, over here. #00545, put that down and get over here. I have something important to say.¡± Milly snuck out the storage room door and stayed low as she crept towards Luna¡¯s control room. The Tutorias were gathered around Luna in the middle of the warehouse and were none the wiser of the intruder in their midst, though Milly nearly blew her cover with a fit of laugher when Luna¡¯s ¡®important announcement¡¯ turned out to be an offkey version of I¡¯m a Little Teapot. Still a little girl at heart. I hope you stay that way, Luna. Milly ducked into Luna¡¯s room, and a few minutes later, Luna and Milly were snuggled up on Luna¡¯s tiny bed, Milly¡¯s hoodie draped over Luna¡¯s legs like a blanket. The trial was broadcast on Luna¡¯s twelve control monitors as Milly brushed Luna¡¯s white hair. Edna Carthage had just told the story of three innocent and helpless women who were brutally assaulted by an unhinged witch. A witch that could chill your bones and shoot lightning from her eyes. ¡°She makes you sound pretty bad ass,¡± Luna said as Edna stepped off stage and her sister Cynthia took her place in the witness chair. ¡°Don¡¯t say ass, Luna,¡± Milly said reflexively. Luna huffed. ¡°You swear all the time. I can see and hear you all the time, you know. I mean, you¡¯ve sworn twice since you arrived here four minutes ago. ¡°Yah, but¡­,¡± Milly protested weakly. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t swear.¡± What do you even say to that? She can see everything, and she¡¯s not exactly a kid. They watched Cynthia launch into the same falsehoods that Edna had told. Luna rolled her eyes. ¡®What?¡± Milly asked. ¡°They are sisters. They were always going to tell the same lies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s always the same with you humans,¡± Luna stated, immensely frustrated. ¡°I¡¯ve got knowledge of all twelve of your failed God Contests in my head. Do you know the common thread connecting all of them? In every single one, you turn on each other. You spend more time vying for power and killing one another, and you forget there¡¯s a world out there that is meant to test you.¡± Luna pointed towards three of her monitors, and their screens changed to video from previous God Contests. ¡°In the second, you created a religion when you sacrificed other players in a volcano. The sixth contest descended into anarchy and sadistic torture after the players rose up and murdered all their leaders. And in the twelfth, an entire city split into factions and went to war with each other. Twelve contents. Twelve failures. And not a single player made it even halfway through.¡± ¡°Not¡­ not even halfway?¡± whispered Milly, astonished. ¡°But¡­ but the twelfth lasted four years¡± ¡°Yes, and they spent most of those four years fighting each other,¡± Luna confirmed with a disappointed sigh. ¡°The contest picked off the few survivors one-by-one. They didn¡¯t have the strength needed to make it through the trials. You humans are too¡­ well, self-centered. Too reluctant to set aside your squabbles and work together to survive.¡± ¡°That¡­ Luna, there are some people you just can¡¯t trust,¡± Milly explained. Luna shrugged, as if trust were inconsequential. ¡°I¡¯m just saying that your capacity to hate one another eclipses any of the species that came before you. It borders on madness. Most species work together. You don¡¯t.¡± Luna flicked her finger, and the three monitors returned to the trial. ¡°The most successful species are the ones joined by a hive mind. Perfect cooperation and absolute order. Of course, the hive mind victors don¡¯t do so well afterwards¡­¡± she muttered, trailing off. Milly didn¡¯t want to know any more. They sat in awkward silence as Cynthia spewed her lies to the crowd, though Milly found she couldn¡¯t focus. Four years? Four years, and an entire city of players, and they didn¡¯t even make it halfway. It¡¯s only been three weeks, and we¡¯ve already lost a hundred and fifty people. How are we supposed to survive this? Against the backdrop of lies and accusations that broadcast on the screens, successful completion of the God Contest felt impossible. The CEOs. The Arenas. Monsters, traps, and gods know what else is out there, designed to kill us one-by-one. On top of all that, these system bugs Luna wants me to track down are threatening the very fabric of the contest itself. It¡¯s impossible. Just impossible. Luna materialized a bowl of popcorn and began munching on it as she watched the trial. Elmer was cross-examining Cynthia, whose face had turned beat red as Elmer tore apart her story piece by piece. Luna giggled in amusement, and a few kernels of popcorn spilled out of the bowl and onto her bed as she rocked excitedly in place. ¡°Sweetheart, be careful. You¡¯ll get crumbs on your bed,¡± Milly said without thinking, as she plucked the kernels and popped them into her mouth. Milly¡¯s mouth watered at the buttery taste. It¡¯d been weeks since she¡¯d had anything outside of boar, fruit, goose, and fish. She felt a sudden longing for home, until she reminded herself that her meals there weren¡¯t much better. ¡°Please tell me we can find corn somewhere in the wilds.¡± ¡°Probably,¡± Luna replied chipperly, offering Milly the bowl. Milly grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it in her mouth, savoring the taste. ¡°Now be quiet. I want to watch this part.¡± Elmer had finished with Cynthia Carthage, who stared daggers at the lawyer as she trundled off the stage. Jacob Stone, CEO of Acicentre, took her place. Chapter 87 - The Madness of Gods and Men ¡°You must understand, my friends,¡± Jacob Stone began, though his words were directed to the gathered crowd, not to Elmer and the judges. ¡°Ms. Brown, the so-called Witch of the Castle of Glass, is dangerous. Not only to her latest three victims, but to every single one of you who are trying to survive.¡± Stone¡¯s voice projected over the crowd, magically magnified. ¡°How many have died as a result of her reckless actions? When she found the Arena of Choice, did she bring that information back to us? No. It never even crossed her mind. She and her friends decided ¨C on their own ¨C to fight it. The first time they tried, her girlfriend nearly died. Did that deter her? No. She went back for more, and she force us ¨C all of us ¨C into phase two of this damned God Contest. The appearance of the Event Timer? That was all her. She took a dire situation and made it astronomically worse.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± shouted Calista, though her words were drowned out by a growing ire gathered masses. Stone rose from the witness chair and stood at the edge of the stage to face the crowd. ¡°Ms. Brown and her Freelancer friends like to blame the CEOS for the deaths at the Battle of Tower Beach,¡± Stone deflected as he riled up the crowd. ¡°She says we locked them out of the Castle. I¡¯ll admit that we locked the doors. We did it to protect you. We did it to keep the monsters out. Do you remember how scared you all were that day? Most of you were level one. Those goblins and ogres would have slaughtered you all. Ever. Last. One of you.¡± Stone suddenly whirled and pointed to an empty chair on the stage ¨C the one reserved for the accused. ¡°No, we CEOs didn¡¯t cause that tragedy. The fault lies at the feet of the Witch of the Castle of Glass! She completed the Arena. She activated the Event Timer. She got those people killed. The best week we¡¯ve ever had in this contest was the week she and her friends were in the wild. Sure, we lost some people, but it was on our terms, not hers.¡± Stone released an exasperated sigh, which carried across the entire crowd. ¡°When she returned to the Castle last week, our orderly little world collapsed. She brought monsters into our midst. She flouted the truce we had built with the Freelancers and Farmers. And she accosted three innocent women. People, like you, who were just doing their job. Which one of you will be next? Which one of you will find yourselves face-to-face against the Witch of the Castle of Glass when she decides you looked at her the wrong way. If we don¡¯t stop her here, today, we¡¯ll find out the answer to that question soon enough. Because she is unstable. Unpredictable. And she is not one of us.¡± Jacob Stone ended with a flourish, and a group of CEO-aligned players, led by Edna and Cynthia, hollered their support. Calista, her face red with barely contained anger, fought the urge to pull out her spear and hurl it through the CEO¡¯s face. Rain rested a calming hand on Calista¡¯s arm. ¡°Let Elmer do his job,¡± she advised, as the leader of the Freelancers got to his feet. Stone sat down in the witness chair and leveled a challenging grin at the man. Elmer was patient. He let the cheers die down before he began. Like Stone, he ignored the court and the CEO seated in the witness chair, and he addressed the audience directly. A slight scowl broke through Stone¡¯s salesman grin as he realized Elmer was about to play him at his own game. ¡°This trial¡­¡± Elmer began slowly, letting each word sink into the minds of the crowd. ¡°¡­ is nothing more than a modern-day witch hunt. Its purpose is not to seek truth behind accusations, but to undermine those who would dare deny the dictatorship of the CEOs. This trial attempts to instill panic and fear within you, so that you bind yourselves closer to the authorities that wish to claim you as their own.¡± While Elmer¡¯s own sigh wasn¡¯t magically amplified like Stone¡¯s, his body language spoke louder than Stone¡¯s magic every could. ¡°It¡¯s an old game, isn¡¯t it? Perhaps the oldest game of those who seek power. The game of fear. Fear is a powerful emotion for the wannabe dictator. It strips you of your senses. It asks you to doubt what you see with your own eyes. It makes you all too eager to give up your freedom for a modicum of safety, even if that safety is but an illusion created by those who would bind you.¡± Elmer raised his voice, growing more dynamic. ¡°A witch trial. It¡¯s a centuries old manifestation of this desperate play for power. Take an innocent woman and make her the community¡¯s object of hatred and fear. Rile up the masses against her. Let the populous escalate to the brink of madness and bring them to the very edge of collapse. Then swoop in, the great savior, and burn the witch alive. Problem solved. And as she burns, those normally sensible people cheer for her scorched flesh and give up power to the very person that caused the panic. He turns their hearts cold, because cold hearts are easy to control.¡± ¡°There is a flaw in your monologue, Elmer,¡± shouted Stone, interrupting Elmer¡¯s speech. ¡°Ms. Brown is, in fact, a witch. It was not the CEOs that named her The Witch of the Castle of Glass, after all.¡± Elmer spun towards Stone, his voice filled with sarcasm and mocking. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry Jacob. I didn¡¯t realize being a witch was illegal in your new world order. Perhaps we should recall our last two witnesses to ask them about it. Which one would you like to question first? The one that can control shadows, or the one that creates monsters from the very earth itself?¡± An unexpected laughter broke across the crowd, which cracked through the tension that Stone had built during his speech. Calista scanned the crowd and saw Edna and Cynthia weaving to the back of the crowd, suddenly reluctant to be the center of attention. Elmer resumed addressing the crowd. ¡°They are right to laugh, Stone. We¡¯ve found ourselves in a magical world, where anyone can become a witch. We are healed by magic. Defended by magic. Our orchards are fed by magic.¡± Elmer glanced back at Lucy, who nodded enthusiastically. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a witch? To demonize one innocent woman because she¡¯s a witch is utter madness,¡± Elmer said, driving the point home. ¡°Do not let these wannabe dictators control you. You know what they are trying to do. You can feel it in your bones.¡± He turned sharply towards the judges. ¡°Milly didn¡¯t accost Edna, Cynthia, and Hana. She saved a little fairy girl from their torment. A young child that was trying to learn magic herself, so she could heal her people, and so she could heal you. If you deny your own senses and let the CEOs use her for their own gain, you do a great disservice to this woman ¨C our Witch of the Castle of Glass ¨C who is giving her all to help us survive!¡± Elmer dropped his voice low, but it still managed to carry to the ears of every person gathered on the beach. ¡°It is time for the madness to end. It is time for you to start thinking for yourselves. Now is the time to come together. To get through this as one, so we can survive. So we can all go home.¡± Elmer finished, and the Freelancers and Farmers in the crowd cheered. Calista glanced over the crowd and was heartened to see others subtly clapping or talking amongst themselves with weary eyes on the Carthage twins and on Stone and Brass. Elmer dismissed Stone from the witness stand. He had done his damage, and he wanted Stone to have no more airtime before the crowd. They moved on to the next witness. * * * Their bowl of popcorn was empty, and Luna leaned into Milly as Milly gently rubbed the child¡¯s back. They both stared wide-eyed at the screen as the crowd¡¯s cheers finally faded and the trial continued. ¡°He¡¯s really good,¡± whispered Luna, the image on her shirt now showing an artistic depiction of Elmer addressing the crowd, a cartoonishly villainous Stone in the background, twirling a handlebar moustache.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Yah¡­,¡± Milly whispered appreciatively. ¡°He is. We¡¯re lucky to have him leading the Freelancers.¡± ¡°Maybe your species isn¡¯t so hopeless, if there are people like you and him to help guide your way. And to keep your species¡¯ stupidity in check,¡± Luna said, sounding very much like the AI Director instead of the child. Milly had been filled with anxiousness and dread during Stone¡¯s speech, but Elmer had crushed those feelings with his heart-felt words. For a brief moment in time, Milly¡¯s soul was full of hope. Hope that, after so many years alone, she might finally be accepted for who she was. It¡¯s time for the madness to end. I like the sound of that. * * * ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, is it not, Cizen?¡± the High Lord praised as He gazed at the Nexus. His mind was deep into the madness, its blackness clouding His vision. It was the same madness that now snaked its way slowly across the Nexus. Veins of disease inching their way across the beacon of creation. Cizen did not respond to his High Lord¡¯s question. There was no point. ¡°I used to think it ugly, this darkness that consumes us all,¡± the High Lord continued, his voice filled with admiration. ¡°But I see it now. The splendor in its simplicity. You should experience it yourself Cizen. You may be the last amongst us who has not felt its poisonous touch.¡± Cizen rolled up the sleeve of his cloak and showed the High Lord the pulsing veins of madness that had started snaking their way up his shriveled arm ¨C the earliest symptoms of the madness. ¡°Ah, yes. That¡¯s good. You will join us. We are at the end of our time, Cizen. In a few, infinitely short years, the last of the Gods shall die, and the Nexus will follow thereafter.¡± ¡°The thirteenth¡­¡± reminded Cizen, only to be interrupted by the irrational anger of the High Lord. ¡°The thirteenth God Contest is all but lost, God of Death! Oracle and Hephaestus doomed it from the start when they created that artificial intelligence. It was an affront to the Nexus. It was an affront to me. So I cast them into their own creation, forced to watch their final effort crumble around them.¡± Cizen grit his skeletal teeth as he fought his intense hatred of the High Lord. It was a hatred that had stewed inside him since his first cycle. The carrion creatures around his feet scampered away as they sensed his growing agitation. ¡°It isn¡¯t time yet,¡± Cizen told himself. ¡°You must be patient. He will be the last. After what happened to Syune, he will see it all crumble around him. It is what he deserves.¡± They watched the Nexus in silence, until another thin tendril of madness inched its way across the sphere of the Nexus. The halls of God Home rumbled, and if the Nexus had a voice, it would be screaming in agony. ¡°That was a big one,¡± the High Lord said in awe, as he leaned forward until his nose nearly touched the sphere. ¡°Larger than at the Arena of Protection. We must go watch its chaos.¡± ¡°You go ahead, High Lord,¡± urged Cizen. ¡°I have¡­ other business to attend to.¡± ¡°You¡¯re no fun, Cizen,¡± the High Lord said absentmindedly as he abruptly abandoned the Nexus and wandered out of the workshop, headed for his throne room and the great viewing sphere. Cizen watched the Nexus for a few more moments after the High Lord left, until the madness that creeped along its surface had finished its expansion. ¡°My apologies, creator,¡± Cizen said sincerely to the Nexus. ¡°The madness wasn¡¯t designed for you. It was for them. Yet here you are, dying alongside your creations. I suppose there is a poetry to that, though even I, who lives within death, does not see its beauty.¡± With that, Cizen retreated towards his private chambers. To his own backdoor into the thirteenth, and his life raft that lay beyond. * * * Luna¡¯s control room rumbled violently, as if struck by a sudden earthquake. A collection of dirty plates tumbled to the floor, and her chair fell over. Above, the lights swung furiously on industrial chains, casting fluctuating shadows across her sanctuary. Luna clung to Milly tightly in fear. Milly lifted Luna into her arms and rushed them beneath Luna¡¯s console for protection. Six of Luna¡¯s monitors crashed to the ground at their feet and shattered into shards of glass, joining the thousands that cascaded off the walls of the Monitoring Room. Twenty Tutorias abruptly screamed in a unified, haunting song of agony as the screens fell. Luna covered her ears with her hands and added her own high-pitched screams to theirs. Milly, alarmed, pulled the child against her chest, held her head, and challenged healer¡¯s touch. She didn¡¯t know if it would work on an AI lifeform, but it was all she could think of. She could sense Luna¡¯s panic, but there was nothing she could do. This was Luna¡¯s domain, and she was only a guest. A minute later, the rumble ceased, and the Tutoria¡¯s stopped their screams. Luna collapsed against Milly¡¯s chest, her breath rapid and shallow, as if she had been tortured. ¡°No. No. No. No!¡± Luna shouted, as she pushed away from Milly and scrambled from beneath the console. Her eyes briefly glanced at the shattered screens, and then scanned those on the wall that still functioned. She was searching their broadcasts for something important. ¡°What was hell was that, Luna?¡± Milly asked urgently, the trial forgotten. ¡°You get earthquakes in here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­,¡± Luna hesitated for a moment, calculating what she could tell Milly without jeopardizing the integrity of the contest. ¡°This is what happened at the Arena of Protection when the challenge was corrupted. The darkness. The errors. Only this time, the earthquake was much more powerful. I need to find out what changed¡­¡± Luna darted out of her chambers and into the Monitoring Room, where the Tutorias lay scattered across the room. A couple had risen to their feet and started to repair the monitors when the child burst forth. ¡°Where is it? Where is it?¡± Luna chanted, growing more frantic by the moment. Milly didn¡¯t think. She darted out of Luna¡¯s control room and headed for the scared child. She did not register the urgent whispers of the Tutorias as they spotted the player in their midst. ¡°Luna, what can I do? How can I help?¡± Milly asked. ¡°I need to find¡­,¡± Luna started, until she found what she was looking for. She stared up at a small, undamaged screen tucked away in the upper corner of a section of monitors. ¡°No¡­ not that one. Please, not that one¡­¡± Milly glanced at the monitor. Her heart dropped, and a deep fear crushed the breath from her lungs. ¡°Oh¡­ shit¡­¡± She had seen the creature on the broadcast before. It was the Dragon of Endless Shadows ¨C the unique beast that had flown over Milly, Calista, and Rain on their first night outside the Castle of Glass. Milly remembered Calista¡¯s intense fear and desperation as Luna¡¯s crescent moon pendant had warned them of its approach. ¡°Put out the fire! For the love of God, put out the fire!¡± I still remember Cally¡¯s absolute panic. I¡¯ve never seen her that scared. Then we heard its primal roar ¨C the roar that silenced the wind and caused the ground to quake. Its shadowy wings and scales eclipsed us in darkness as it consumed the light of the world. Unbidden, the creature¡¯s description popped up on a player screen. It was the same description Calista had shown them after the beast had finally flown over the horizon.
Unique Beast, The Dragon of Endless Shadows Fear the light, for it shall attract the darkness. The Dragon of Endless Shadows circles the world at night, devouring any light it comes across. Immensely powerful, Endless Shadows commands darkness itself. It wields powerfully dark magics and can create armies of shadow creatures that do its bidding. During the day, it rests deep underground in the mountains. The Dragon of Endless Shadows is one of the four harbingers of the Cataclysm Phase of The God Contest. Weaknesses: None yet identified Recommended Player Level: 250
The monitor that broadcast the Dragon of Endless Shadows beneath its mountain once had a message along the bottom that said ¡®Foreshadow-mode ¨C Active at Cataclysm¡¯. The message had changed.
#error# Dragon of Endless Shadows #error# activation sequence #error# initiated. Teleportation imminent. WARNING: Player levels too low. #error# Overridden. #Phase IV Challenge #error# now active.
Luna, Milly, and all twenty Tutorias, watched the broadcast in absolute horror as a rift opened up beneath the Dragon of Endless Shadows, swallowing the creature whole. Its roar of outrage reverberated across the Monitoring Room. ¡°Figure out where it¡¯s going and send me the feed!¡± Luna shouted desperately to the Tutorias. They gave one last glance at Milly before rushing to their stations. ¡°Luna¡­,¡± Milly said softly, her heart so constricted that she could hardly breath. She pointed towards the wall of monitors tuned to the Castle of Glass. In the sky high above the trial ¨C high above the hundreds of gathered players ¨C a rift had formed, and darkness began to leak through. The same darkness that had settled upon the Arena of Protection. The same darkness as the madness. * * * Minerva was halfway through her testimony, telling the story of the Witch of the Castle of Glass helping her and her friends survive, when the sky above the crowd ripped open and shadows began to pour out. ¡°Is this your doing, Huntress?¡± shouted Judy Brass over the screams of the crowd, as she stared up at the sky. ¡°Your bitch will not evade justice with trickery!¡± Calista did not hear the CEO. She did not hear the screams from the crowd. Her crescent moon pendant glowed brightly between her breasts. She knew exactly what was beyond that rift. She knew what was coming for them. ¡°Rain! Elmer!¡± Calista frantically screamed as she grabbed Rain¡¯s arm and hauled her through the crowd. ¡°Run! For your life, run!¡± ¡°Calista, what is¡­,¡± Rain asked, as a tremendous, earth-shattering roar erupted from the rift. They ran, bravery abandoned, as the Dragon of Endless Shadows emerged from the rift. As the sky was blanketed in darkness. Chapter 88 - The Dragon of Endless Shadows The Dragon of Endless Shadows¡¯ glowing red eyes pierced the infectious darkness that spread across the sky. Crawling its way out of the rift with leathery wings and powerful legs, it released a tremendous roar that soaked up the screams of the players far below. Utter silence fell over the Castle of Glass, and not even the wind dared to challenge the dominion of the beast. With a final kick of its hind legs, the monstrosity shot out of the rift. The snap of its long, forked tail as it flew free shattered the silence like a cannon shatters the calm before a battle. The beast dove towards the Castle of Glass from the darkening sky above. Its scales consumed the light around it, leaving only shadows in its wake. The gathered players below did not move. They stared up in uncomprehending terror as winged death came for them. ¡°Get moving! Run! Run!¡± shouted Calista as she and Rain weaved through the crowd. ¡°Rain, they aren¡¯t moving. Shit, shit, shit!¡± Calista activated Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector. Her terror was as visceral as it had been on that first night in the wilds, when the Dragon of Endless Shadows had flown overhead and blotted out the light of the moon and stars. They couldn¡¯t fight it. They might as well try to dig through a mountain with a spoon. Calista glanced back at the stage. Judy Brass was the only one who had not fled. She clutched her gavel tightly in her hands, unmoving, her face frozen between outrage and absolute terror. Stone and abandoned her there as he fled with Edna and Cynthia towards the lobby. ¡°Rain, these people need to start moving,¡± Calista said, desperately trying to cobble together a plan. ¡°You got anything?¡± Rain¡¯s palms lit with fire magic. She thrust her arm in the air, and a donut of flame erupted thirty feet around her and over the heads of nearby players. The sudden blast of light roused them from fear-induced stupors. ¡°Get out of here! Spread out! Find shelter¡± Calista shouted into the crowd, grateful for Rain¡¯s quick thinking. It worked. The crowd, after a precious second, suddenly switched from frozen to flight, and took off in all directions. It spread throughout the crowd, one person triggering another. The shadow dragon pulled out from its dive above the Castle of Glass. The hurricane-force winds from the beat of its wings as it slowed its descent shattered the windows of Freelancer Tower and peppered the inside with shards of fractured glass. The winds careened along the tower and blasted across the beach. Players were picked off the ground and thrown into the air. They tumbled as if they were no more than leaves in a storm. ¡°Fuck!¡± Calista shouted as the gust flung her and Rain into the air. Grasping hold of Rain¡¯s tailcoat and pulling her into a tight embrace, Calista activated her Talaria of Mercury for a half-second of flight to soften their landing. They were amongst the few who landed on their feet. The once tightly packed players were scattered along the beach, and only those with higher levels of agility were able to come out of it ready to react to what came next. Inhaling with the force of a jet engine, the dragon targeted the stage. Judy Brass stared up at the creature as it opened its maw. Shadowy fire danced within, an impossibly deep darkness that hungered for the souls of those below. Brass¡¯ gavel fell from her hand. The thump as it struck the stage jarred her from her stupor. Brass ran to the edge of the stage and leapt off, just as the dragon belched forth a stream of dense shadow fire that covered the stage and engulfed it in a darkness so absolute that the structure seemed to disappear from the world.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The shadow fire licked Brass¡¯s feet as she dove off the stage. As the flames contacted her skin, the life in her legs turned to ash. Her feet and shins faded to the deceased grey of the dead, rendered useless before she landed on the sand. Her scream, a frantic mix of terror and outrage, could be heard by every player on the beach. She did not scream alone. The billowed shadow fire broke over the stage and rolled across the beach like a tidal wave, carving a path the width of the stage through the crowd. When the fire touched sand, the sand turned to glass. As the wave fell across the players in its wake, their screams joined Brass¡¯ as the life was torn from their bodies and hollowed them out from the inside. Calista watched in helpless horror as a hundred players were engulfed in death. She saw Priyanka, Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s mistress, reach out towards her lover in desperation before the wave swept over her. Mr. Fredrickson could only stare in soul-crushing sorrow as she screamed. When the wave rolled out to sea, all that was left in its wake were grey, lifeless corpses lying prone on a sheet of black glass. They had just witnessed a sixth of their remaining coworkers wiped out in an instant. ¡°Oh god,¡± Elmer whispered as he, Lucy, Alison, and Minerva caught up to the Huntress and the Alchemist. Calista instinctively extended her Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector to them. ¡°What¡­ can we do?¡± They were at a loss, desperately trying to keep hold of their senses through heart-pounding fear. Calista tore her eyes away from the destruction the beast had wrought and forced logic and reason into her mind. She was the Battlefield Commander. It was time to act like it. ¡°Elmer and Lucy, get as many players as you can out through the jungle gate,¡± Calista ordered, her eyes darting about the battlefield to take it all in. ¡°The trees will provide cover. Don¡¯t try to fight this thing. It¡¯s beyond us.¡± Calista focused on building an army in her mind that consisted of those around her and everyone else she could think of, regardless of faction. Rain. Elmer and Alison. Lucy and Minerva. Stone, Brass, Edna and Cynthia, Mr. Fredrickson, and a hundred more that popped into her head. As her army came together, her Soldier¡¯s Morale talent kicked in, and everyone within suddenly felt their attributes boosted by twenty percent. They would be retreating, and she knew her Coward¡¯s Folly penalty would temporarily decrease everyone¡¯s attributes by twenty percent when the battle was over, but it was a sacrifice she needed to make. Elmer clenched his hand, feeling the power flow within him. ¡°We¡¯re on it, Calista,¡± he promised, and they began to round up players and direct them to the gate. ¡°Minerva, you go with them,¡± Calista said. ¡°You¡¯re still low level, and even with my boost, your attributes aren¡¯t high enough to do any good here.¡± ¡°My¡­ my friends,¡± Minerva stammered, her eyes filled with utter sorrow. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye out for them,¡± Calista promised. ¡°No¡­ no, they were¡­ they were in that blast. I saw them. I saw the shadows swallow them. I need to find¡­ I need¡­¡± Minerva stammered without thought. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Minerva. They¡¯re¡­ they¡¯re dead now. Don¡¯t let yourself join them. Get yourself to safety. Elmer?¡± Calista called. Elmer dashed over and scooped Minerva into his arms and headed towards the jungle gate. ¡°Huntress, don¡¯t go getting yourself killed,¡± Elmer shouted back as he ran, Alison tight at his side. ¡°You¡¯ve got a witch and an alchemist to look after.¡± Calista gave him a sad smile, then turned to Rain. ¡°Rain, we need to¡­ shit!¡± As the last wisps of shadow fire faded, the dragon landed with a tremendous crash on the south side of the Castle of Glass. Its weight caused the ground to shutter, as if a fifth tower had just been dropped from above. Calista and Rain stumbled, but their enhanced agility kept them on their feet. The Dragon of Endless Shadows rose up on its four legs, stretching its neck until its head level with the sixteen-story towers. Calista thoughts she caught a glimmer of amusement in its dark eyes as it surveyed the players trying to flee into the jungle. It leaned its head towards the sky and roared. Countless black tendrils spewed forth and arched in a wide circle around the Castle of Glass. The tendrils slammed to the ground, one-by-one, just inside the barricade of tightly-packed logs that the players had erected to keep the wild at bay. The tendrils stiffened and set, with no more than half a foot gap between each. It formed a cage, and the players found themselves trapped inside with the beast as darkness consumed midday sun. ¡°So much for escaping to the jungle,¡± Rain said matter-of-factly as she withdrew her dagger from her inventory, its gem already filled with poison. ¡°What about the Waypoint Pillar?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope it works,¡± Calista agreed. ¡°You head there and see if it¡¯s active. If it is, start getting everyone out. If the dragon targets you, use that pillar to get yourself to the meadow. Don¡¯t even think about coming back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Rain agreed, already scanning the crowd for the closest players. ¡°What¡¯ll you do?¡± Calista glanced up at the shattered windows of Freelancer Tower, the dragon¡¯s head disturbingly close to their home and the little fairy girl within. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I promised Milly I would do. Protect Passi with my life.¡± Chapter 89 - A Childs Vengence Passiflora was no longer in their home. As soon as the rift appeared above the Castle of Glass and darkness began to spread over the sky, Passiflora grabbed the dagger she had stolen from Rain and descended down the stairwell. She didn¡¯t know what the rift was. All she knew was it gave her what she needed. A distraction. ¡°He¡¯s not going to hurt anyone ever again,¡± Passiflora whispered to herself, her little heart pounding as she hid around the third-floor stairwell corner and watched the medics stream out of the clinic, headed for the beach. As the last one left, she eased open the stairwell door stepped inside. The floor was empty save for the infuriated man who sat on his cot, shouting at the ring on his finger. In his anger, Xavier had re-opened his injuries. Blood soaked into his bandages, though he hardly seemed to notice. Cerberus hid under the cot, whimpering as she stared at his master. In her few days with Xavier, Passiflora had heard the man talk to that ring before, always at night when Xavier believed her to be asleep. He had spoken to the object as if it were a living being, as she had known she was in the clutches of a madman. Xavier had always had a certain level of agitation at the ring ¨C and at her, and, it seemed, at the world at large ¨C as if he held a deeply seeded belief that everyone was against him and his agitation was all that kept it at bay. This was not like those other times. This time, he was filled with uncontained rage. The kind of white-hot anger reserved for those whom you dared to trust, only to have them stab you in the back. ¡°You knew! You told me they were monsters, but you knew they were real. I slaughtered them all. Real creatures. Real¡­ people,¡± Xavier shouted at his ring, and with each word he grew more frantic. ¡°You wanted me to kill them.¡± Xavier grew silent, listening to a response only he could hear. ¡°No, its not the same thing. The monsters aren¡¯t real. Monsters are just bags of experience, no different than a video game. But these fairies are not that. Milly said they are as real as I am.¡± A few seconds of silence passed, and Xavier¡¯s face contorted in absolute fury. ¡°What do you mean it was necessary? I am not a monster! I wouldn¡¯t have killed them if I had known. That¡¯s not¡­ that¡¯s not who I am. Look, I¡­ will¡­ will you just shut up! Just shut up!¡± Passiflora flapped her wings and lifted an inch of the floor, careful not to let the sound give away her presence. She grew closer to her target, inch by inch, as Xavier grew more frantic. She clutched her dagger tighter. ¡°Your plans? What the fuck to I care about your plans? Cizen, you motherfucker! You used me, didn¡¯t you? No, this isn¡¯t part of who I am, you sadistic asshole. I¡¯m not evil. What have you done to me? The blade¡­ the cravings¡­ did you¡­ Cizen? Cizen! We¡¯re not done here! Cizen! Get your ass back here!¡± The God of Death went silent in Xavier¡¯s mind just as the shadow dragon¡¯s roar reverberated across the beach and filled the clinic with a bellow soaked in darkness and hate. The shock of the roar caused Passiflora to cover her ears reflexively. The dagger fell from her hand, and it landed on the carpet with a soft thump. Xavier whirled and spotted the little fairy girl. His face dropped. ¡°You?¡± Xavier said, shocked at her presence. ¡°What the fuck do you want, girl? What the fuck was that roar?¡± ¡°You killed my clan!¡± Passi shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with absolute hatred for the man only a few feet away from her. She was so close, and the dagger was just an inch away from her feet. She could still finish this. ¡°You¡­ you are a monster!¡± ¡°Yah¡­ well¡­,¡± Xavier stammered, his usual defensive confidence shattered. He had thought the fairies were monsters. They weren¡¯t, and he had killed them. He had thought the ring was just another powerful object. It wasn¡¯t. Cizen had manipulated him. He had thought himself healthy. He wasn¡¯t. Even now, he could feel the addiction of the black blade ¨C the addiction of power ¨C cry out. It whispered to him to kill the child and sate its thirst. Xavier tried to suppress it all. ¡°So what do you want? An apology? I don¡¯t¡­¡± Passiflora bent down and grabbed the dagger in her tiny hand. She rushed towards the man with a feral scream. ¡°Die, murderer!¡± She swung as hard as she could for Xavier¡¯s heart. Xavier caught her wrist in his hand with little effort, his enhanced strength and agility easily stopping the blow. Cerberus poked his head out from beneath the cot and bit onto the hem of Passiflora¡¯s dress and gave a tiny, threatening growl. ¡°Stupid,¡± Xavier spat. His hand clenched around Passi¡¯s wrist, and she screamed in pain. ¡°What¡¯d you think you¡¯d accomplish? You¡¯re weak. Pathetic. A loser. You¡¯re all alone in this world, and you always will be.¡± The words flowed from the angry man, though his anger and his words were not directed at the child, but at himself.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± answered Passi through gritted teeth. ¡°And you¡¯re wrong. I have a family. I have my mom.¡± ¡°Your mom?¡± asked Xavier, loosening his grip on the child¡¯s wrist. ¡°Milly. My mom. And she¡¯s stronger than you¡¯ll ever be,¡± Xavier was stunned. The notion that his former friend ¨C the mousy, pathetic girl abandoned by the world ¨C would have adopted the fairy child as her own was as foreign of a concept to him as anything he had encountered in this world. ¡°So that¡¯s why she was so protective of you,¡± Xavier muttered. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need to kill me, girl. I¡¯m not staying at the Castle of Glass. It¡¯s been made clear I¡¯m not welcome here.¡± Xavier glanced at the fairy girl, and, despite his efforts to suppress what he had done, he felt an immense guilt bubble up within him. He blamed Cizen for what had happened to her clan. He was lied to and manipulated by the death god. The blade had imparted upon him an addiction that had changed him and made him desperate. It wasn¡¯t his fault. It couldn¡¯t be. Even if it was, he¡¯d made up for it at the Arena of Protection. Right? Xavier tried to swallow his pride, and wished he could start all over. ¡°Look, girl ¨C Passiflora ¨C for what it¡¯s worth¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sor¡­¡± At that moment, the windows of the Castle of Glass exploded inward as hurricane force winds erupted from the wings of the shadow dragon. Shattered shards of glass rained down upon them, and Xavier held his hands out to protect himself. He let go of Passi¡¯s wrist. Passi didn¡¯t hesitate. As shards of glass sliced across her face, arms, and chest, leaving deep, bloody gashes, she finished what she had started. She struck Xavier just below his heart. Rain¡¯s blade sunk deep into his flesh between the ribs. Xavier gasped in utter shock as he stared down at the hate-fueled fairy girl. The dagger had been one of five that Rain had enchanted with fire. Passiflora didn¡¯t know which one she had grabbed. A heartbeat after it entered Xavier¡¯s flesh, the explosion-enchanted throwing dagger erupted into eight different fragments that shot out at all angles. Six fragments embedded themselves into Xavier¡¯s fresh and sliced through his insides like a hot knife slices through butter. Xavier spasmed and coughed, and blood erupted from his mouth as his insides were ripped apart. One fragment struck Cerberus in the leg. Xavier¡¯s familiar yelped in pain and released Passi¡¯s dress. The puppy hid beneath the cot with a pathetic whimper, its leg bloody. The final fragment struck Passi just below her ribs. The child screamed in agony as the fragment of blade shot into her and out her back like a bullet, narrowly missing her spine. Passi reached down and touched her stomach. Her fingers came back bloody. She backed away from Xavier in a panic. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Xavier said in utter disbelief as blood tricked from his mouth. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­ you were real. I¡¯m¡­¡± He collapsed onto the floor, his body failing. Outside, the shadow dragon released its breath weapon across the beach, snuffling out the lives of a hundred of his former coworkers. Passi stumbled away, her hand clutched against her stomach. Her hands glowed with healing blue as she desperately tried to stem the bleeding. ¡°I¡¯m sorry mom,¡± Passi pleaded weakly as she entered the staircase and headed for the lobby. ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t let him get away with it. I couldn¡¯t let him hurt you too.¡± The stairway door closed behind her, a trail of blood marking her passage. * * * ¡°Milly, no! You can¡¯t go,¡± Luna shouted desperately as she clung to Milly¡¯s gown. ¡°It¡¯s a system bug. I have no control over what¡¯s happening. The Dragon of Endless Shadows will kill you! It¡¯s an end-game challenge!¡± The Tutorias had gathered around the pair and formed a tight circle to trap the interloper in their midst. They leveled accusations at both Milly and the AI Director that had allowed the player into their sanctuary. ¡°I have to go Luna,¡± Milly answered, her voice filled with a fear deeper than any she had ever known. She pushed that feeling down into the pit of her stomach, wishing that Salem¡¯s Fury would activate to deaden the sensation that threatened to overwhelm her. ¡°Cally is there. My daughter is there. My best friend. I can¡¯t just abandon them.¡± ¡°Yes, you can,¡± protested Luna, all semblance of the neutral AI Director submerged beneath the six-year-old child. ¡°Stay with me. If you don¡¯t die, the God Contest will never end. It can be just the two of us. Luna and Milly, forever.¡± ¡°Director, the very suggestion goes against the purpose for which your Oracle designed you,¡± Tutoria #00788 scolded. ¡°You place the very fabric of the God Contest in jeopardy by even uttering such words.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad enough you have allowed player Milly Brown to breach your sanctum,¡± Tutoria #0109 added. ¡°That act alone could skew the contest beyond the limits of flexibility. It¡­¡± ¡°Shut up! Just shut up, all of you!¡± screamed Luna, growing more frantic by the moment. ¡°I am this contest! I determine its limits. Its flexibility. Its parameters. You are just my helpers. You answer to me.¡± The Tutoria¡¯s stayed silent, but they did not break their circle around Milly and Luna. I don¡¯t think they answer to you, Luna. I fear they answer to another master. Behind them, the monitors tuned to the Castle of Glass showed the shadow dragon crushing the stage beneath its massive, clawed foot. Judy Brass crawled desperately across the sand, her legs useless, trying to reach the lobby. Milly found herself without sympathy for the woman. Mohammad, the Freelancer¡¯s best archer, was the first to recover his senses. He drew his bow and shot at the creature, but his enchanted arrow simply bounced off its thick, black scales. The Dragon of Endless Shadows didn¡¯t even register the attack, as it released a second jet of shadow fire across the beach that engulfed another twenty players. Milly knelt in front of the child and pulled her into a tight embrace. ¡°I have to go,¡± she whispered in Luna¡¯s ear, trying to sound brave. ¡°You know that. I¡¯m your Inquisitor, remember? You gave me these glasses to scan the bugs so you can fix them. We ¨C you and I ¨C can still save all those people. We can still save my family.¡± Luna gazed at Milly with wide, tear-filled eyes, and gave her a small, reluctant nod. The child within Luna was submerged, and the AI Director took her place. ¡°Everyone to your stations!¡± Luna shouted, her voice filled with authority. The Tutorias abruptly stood at attention. ¡°Yes, Director Cutiepie,¡± they answered in unison, as they scattered across the complex of monitors to find still-functional control panels. The AI Director tapped the rim of Milly¡¯s spectacles with her finger. ¡°I will need a close-up scan for this one, Milly. It¡¯s too powerful ¨C too big of an error ¨C to get what I need from a distance. Do you think you can do that?¡± Milly glanced at the monitor, the dragon¡¯s head nearly level with the roof of Freelancer Tower. Her stomach sank. ¡°I¡­ I think I have an idea,¡± Milly uttered. She pulled her last waypoint crystal from her inventory and held it in her hand. Luna waved her hand, and an infinitely complex control panel descended from the ceiling. It resembled a motherboard, only instead of circuits, it contained millions of tiny switches marked with incomprehensible hieroglyphics. More panels descended around her, until the AI Director was at the center of a spherical control booth. Every aspect of the God Contest within her control was at her fingertips. ¡°Get me that scan, Milly,¡± said the AI Director. ¡°Once I have it, I can fix the bug from here. Now go, or there won¡¯t be anyone left to save.¡± Milly lifted the waypoint crystal above her head and took a deep breath to calm her heart. ¡°Milly,¡± Luna added, as the child returned for a fleeting moment. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t die. Please don¡¯t leave me all alone.¡± ¡°I¡­,¡± Milly tried to promise, but the words caught her in her throat. ¡°Take care, Luna.¡± Milly crushed the crystal in her hands. ¡°The Castle of Glass!¡± She vanished, and Luna sat alone once more, with only the whispers of her Tutorias to fill the silence. Chapter 90 - Desperation ¡°What do you mean the AI Director has a player in her sanctuary?¡± One minute, Cizen, the death god, had been arguing with the impertinent Xavier, trying to convince the foolish human not to hurl his ring into the nearest ocean. A moment later, he had been unexpectedly pulled out of his connection to the God Contest as an emergency message came in from the AI¡¯s sanctuary. ¡°I mean exactly that,¡± Tutoria #0001 replied. ¡°Player Mildred Persephone Brown. AKA The Witch of the Castle of Glass. She¡¯s here right now, in the sanctuary, hugging the AI Director.¡± ¡°Of all the cycle-barren¡­,¡± Cizen said as he struggled to keep his composure. ¡°What could the Director possibly be thinking? It risks destabilization of the entire contest. Who is this human?¡± ¡°She¡¯s one of the highest-level players in the game,¡± Tutoria replied. ¡°She¡¯s friends with your vessel. Or she was, before they had a falling out.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, Xavier talks about her often,¡± recalled the god. ¡°Though whether it was as a friend or as an enemy depended on his mood.¡± ¡°Do you want us to eliminate Ms. Brown, creator?¡± Tutoria asked eagerly. Cizen could tell the Tutoria had been shaken by the very notion that the AI Director had kept secrets despite the watchful eyes of the Tutorias. Cizen wondered how many other secrets the Director might be hiding. ¡°What are they doing, other than¡­ hugging?¡± The word made Cizen feel uncomfortable. Even when Syune had been alive, they had bonded more on an intellectual level than an intimate one. Cizen felt sorrow threaten to touch his long-dead heart, and he crushed the emotion. ¡°We don¡¯t know, sir. The Director seems quite attached to this player, but, so far, it has not materialized into an advantage in the Contest, at least as far as we can detect. However, this revelation suggests there may be more that we don¡¯t know. If I may say, sir, it¡¯s too great of a risk to let this player live. Give me permission to end her.¡± Cizen thought for a long moment as he considered his options. He knew he should let Tutoria eradicate the risk, yet her connection to Xavier opened up new windows of opportunity that he had not considered before. ¡°No, let them be, for now, but eliminate her access to the Director,¡± Cizen decided. ¡°Figure out how she gains access to the sanctuary and plug the hole. Report back if the Director¡¯s actions jeopardize my plans.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Tutoria responded, disappointed. She severed the connection, and Cizen was left alone in his hidden chamber once more. Cizen sighed. ¡°This AI Director of yours is not functioning as expected, Oracle,¡± he muttered as he returned to his console. He felt his strength drain away as the machine extracted its price to project his mind into the God Contest ¨C into the ring on his vessel¡¯s finger. Cizen felt Xavier¡¯s pain the moment his connection was re-established. The man¡¯s organs were destroyed and he lay in a pool of his own blood. He was on the brink of unconsciousness, and in mere minutes he would be dead. The uncharacteristic obscenities that erupted from the death god had no translation in the human tongue, though their meaning was clear enough. It was not a good day for the death god. Despite Xavier''s deficiencies, and the Cizen''s continual struggle to direct the player, the death god couldn''t afford to let Xavier die. Xavier was his vessel - the only one with the appropriate biological compatablility. Without him, Cizen''s plan - the only thing that truly mattered anymore - woudl fail. Xavier must not only survive. He must thrive, so he was strong enough to be Cizen''s host. So he - after all these years of planning - could finally activate Project Rebirth. Yet now the human¡¯s impending death had forced Cizen¡¯s hand, long before this vessel was ready. Xavier didn¡¯t have the strength t, and Cizen didn¡¯t have the control over his mind. Cizen only had one real option. Anything other meant Cizen¡¯s death - and the deaths of those he loved. Cizen activated the hidden power of the Ring of Cizen, and planted the seeds of his escape. * * * Xavier struggled to remain conscious. He lay in a rapidly growing pool of his blood. His organs were shutting down. His mind was fuzzy, as if he were falling sleep. Cerberus licked his face with a scared whine. ¡°You¡­ you go to¡­ Milly¡­,¡± Xavier said to his familiar. ¡°She¡¯ll¡­ take care¡­ of you¡­¡± Blood erupted from his mouth. He had tried to heal himself, but the damage was too extensive. He was dying, and there was nothing he could do about it. ¡°Perhaps¡­ this is for¡­ the best. No¡­ more guilt. No more¡­ anger¡­,¡± Xavier muttered as his eyes grew heavy. The Ring of Cizen on his finger flashed with a deep red light, and a screen appeared before him.
Player death imminent. Activate Ring of Cizen Advancement?
Xavier could hardly comprehend the message. He forced his eyes open as he tried to read the words. His world was spinning, and he answered without knowing the question. ¡°Yes,¡± Xavier said, his words barely a whisper past his lips. In a video game, when in doubt, always select yes to advance.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
Please confirm consent to transformation and apportionment.
¡°Yes¡­,¡± Xavier answered with his final breath. The ring on his finger dissolved into a fine black powered. The fragments spiraled into the air like a flock of crows and shot down Xavier¡¯s throat. Xavier¡¯s screams filled the medical clinic, and everything went black. * * * Milly surged out the kaleidoscope tunnel at the Castle of Glass waypoint pillar. The moment her feet touched the sand, she felt Salem¡¯s Fury activate. The flames that numbed her emotions ignited, and for once she welcomed it. This was no time for emotions. The Castle of Glass was in complete chaos. The bodies of her coworkers lay on black lines of glass that stretched across the beach. Players had been hurled like rag dolls by the dragon¡¯s hurricane winds. The dragon stared down at the masses below, as if it were a child huddled over an anthill with a magnifying glass. It was toying with them, basking in their fear. Milly heard screams in the air above her. Amir and Kenji, the accountants from the cubicle across the aisle, had been sent hurling into the air by a quick flick of the dragon¡¯s wings. Reaching out with her telepathy, Milly hauled them out of the sky and softened their landing with a cushion of air. ¡°I thought we were goners. If it wasn¡¯t for you, we¡¯d¡­,¡± started Amir, until he glanced towards their rescuer and saw Milly¡¯s face. His grateful smile faded. Milly could see it in their eyes ¨C the struggle to decide whether the Witch of the Castle of Glass was the monster the CEOs claimed, or the savior that Elmer supported. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t have time to help them resolve their internal conflict. ¡°Run, you morons,¡± she shouted at the pair. A tiny purple flame flared into existence on the tip of her finger to accentuate her direction. ¡°I¡­ yes, um¡­ of course, Milly. Um¡­ Ma¡¯am,¡± Kenji stammered. ¡°Thank¡­ thank you for saving us.¡± Amir and Kenji ran for the ocean, where a group of players were desperately trying to find refuge beneath the waves. ¡°Idiots,¡± she muttered as they fled across the sand. ¡°Milly!¡± Rain threw her arms around her best friend¡¯s neck. Milly returned the embrace as the dragon sent another stream of fire into the crowd. ¡°Where¡¯s Cally and Passi?¡± Milly asked, Salem¡¯s Fury burning the fear that appeared in her soul. ¡°Calista went to get Passi a minute ago. We¡¯ve got to get everyone out of here. Hold on,¡± Rain answered as she touched the Waypoint Pillar. This Waypoint Pillar cannot be activated while enemies are in the vicinity. Rain¡¯s heart sank. ¡°A Waypoint Crystal?¡± Milly suggested hopefully. Rain pulled a crystal from her inventory and held it aloft. ¡°Milly¡¯s Meadow,¡± she shouted. The crystal remained inert. ¡°Arena of Choice,¡± Rain tried again, with the same result. ¡°Shit. This isn¡¯t good, Milly. It¡¯s too powerful.¡± ¡°I can help,¡± Milly assured her. She glanced up at the shadow dragon, its head tantalizingly close to the roof of Freelancer Tower. ¡°I need to get to the roof, Rain.¡± ¡°Milly, you can¡¯t fight it,¡± Rain protested. ¡°That¡¯s suicide.¡± ¡°Do you trust me, Rain?¡± Milly asked. ¡°Of course I do, Mils. With my life,¡± Rain answered. ¡°You know I do.¡± ¡°Then get me to Freelancer Tower.¡± Milly and Rain dashed for the Tower, leaping over the bodies of their fallen coworkers and weaving around those still able to stand. Milly tried not to look at the victims. She didn¡¯t want to see the faces of those now staring up at her with empty open eyes. If only they had stayed empty. The Dragon of Endless Shadows¡¯ eyes glowed a piercing blood red as hundreds of black wisps began to emerge, one-by-one, from its light-consuming scales. As they formed and detached from the unique beast, the wisps sped straight towards the remains of their fallen coworkers. ¡°It wields dark magics to create armies of shadow,¡± Rain recited from the dragon¡¯s system description. The first of the black wisp reached a body a few feet away from them. It was a woman Milly recognized from Acicenter, though she¡¯d never learned her name. She felt a pang of guilt at how little time she had taken to get to know her coworkers. ¡°Hope,¡± Rain whispered, her voice cracking with sorrow. ¡°She came to me for anxiety medication, and she had a boyfriend and a little girl back home.¡± The wisp squirmed its way into Hope¡¯s mouth and traveled down her throat. Her body glowed with deep darkness as her corpse began to move. The creature rose to her feet, as if she ¨C it ¨C were a puppet brough to life with string. ¡°Rain¡­ what level was Hope?¡± Milly uttered as she watched a hundred identical wisps enter the bodies that lay scattered across the beach. Vessels hollowed out by fire, to serve as hosts for the dragon¡¯s shadow army. ¡°Why¡­ don¡¯t you¡­ ask me yourself, Witch,¡± Hope answered, her voice thin and distorted, as if she were speaking from down a long tunnel. The bright blue of her eyes had turned featureless and black as the shadow took control. Milly and Rain recoiled at the mockery of life before them. Hope¡¯s hand glowed pale blue as she channeled water magic to create a spiked mace of ice. The creature lunged with the weapon grasped in both hands and aimed for the head of the witch. Milly and Rain didn¡¯t hesitate. They struck the creature piloting Hope¡¯s body with twin blasts of fire before she had taken three steps. The creature was hurled backwards by the blasts and collapsed to the ground with a pair of holes in her chest. ¡°She was level ten, I think,¡± Rain answered as she observed the creature. ¡°This¡­ thing seemed about the same level, and it could use Hope¡¯s talents.¡± ¡°This is sadistic,¡± Milly grimaced. Across the beach, the wisp-controlled players rose to their feet, the power and talents of their hosts at their fingertips. ¡°Mils, whatever it is you¡¯re going to do, you need to do it fast,¡± Rain said as the beach erupted into an all-out battle between players and their fallen friends. ¡°Rain, I¡¯ve got to¡­ Look out!¡± Out of the corner of her eye, Milly she saw the Dragon of Endless Shadows belch shadow fire straight towards them. She pulled Rain to her with her telekinesis and launched them towards the lobby with a powerful blast of air. The flames missed the Witch and the Alchemist by inches but rolled over another dozen players as it billowed down the beach. As they died, the wisps took control. Milly tried to block out their screams, until one that was familiar caught her attention. Ten feet from where they skidded to a stop, Mr. Fredrickson stared wide-eyed as his lover stalked towards him. ¡°Come join me, Frank,¡± Priyanka enticed in that distorted voice. ¡°You¡¯ll never survive here on your own. Just give up. I¡¯ll make it quick, and we can be together in the shadows. Forever.¡± Frank held a rusted mace in his hands. ¡°Pri¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± As Priyanka reached for him, he let the mace fall from his hands, unable to defend himself against the woman he loved. Milly covered the distance in less than a second as she formed her Obsidian Fists. As Priyanka¡¯s hands reached for Mr. Fredrickson¡¯s throat, Milly¡¯s fist connected with her skull. Priyanka¡¯s head cracked open as the force of the blow flung her backwards. Mr. Fredrickson stared at his saviors. ¡°Mil¡­ Milby?¡± Mr. Fredrickson stammered as he stood there in shock and dismay. ¡°It¡¯s Milly, Mr. Fredrickson. Um¡­ Frank,¡± Milly answered. He stopped being Mr. Fredrickson weeks ago. He¡¯s just another player now. A player who just watched the woman he loved die. Twice. Frank collapsed as his knees gave way. Rain caught him as he fell and wrapped a supportive arm around his waist. ¡°Rain, get him somewhere safe,¡± Milly said, her thoughts returning to the dragon. How many more loved ones have to die today? ¡°Hurry Mils,¡± Rain answered. ¡°Do what you need to do. I¡¯ll get Frank to safety, then go help Elmer and the others.¡± A knot formed in Milly¡¯s chest as they separated. It felt like the Arena of Protection when Calista had left to save the fairies. Milly had been left alone, unable to protect the people that she loved. She shoved that feeling into the flames of Salem¡¯s Fury alongside her other emotions. You don¡¯t have time for sorrow, Milly. You have a job to do. Chapter 91 - The End of Patience Calista threw open the entrance to the Freelancer Tower stairwell to climb to the fourteenth floor and save Passi. Her heart plummeted as she tripped over the unconscious fairy child, who lay at the base of the stairs in a pool of her own blood. ¡°Passi? Passi! No, no, no!¡± Calista shouted frantically as she lifted the fairy child in her arms and cradled her to her chest. The child¡¯s blood soaked into Calista¡¯s Amazon dress and stained it red. Passi was limp, but Calista could see her chest rise and fall. Her breath was shallow and erratic, but she was alive. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Passi. I¡¯ve got you. I¡¯ll keep you safe,¡± she whispered. Withdrawing Rain¡¯s healing potion from her inventory, she poured it into the wound in Passi¡¯s stomach. Her flesh sizzled as it began to heal. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s not strong enough. Come on Passi. Hang in there,¡± Calista begged, as Passi began to spasm. Calista carried her into the lobby, leaving a trail of blood behind. Laying the child on one of the lobby couches, Calista knelt and placed a hand on Passi¡¯s forehead. ¡°Bat¡­ Battlefield Stabilization,¡± Calista stammered, praying that her new talent would work. Calista¡¯s hand emitted a soft white light that quickly spread across Passi¡¯s skin until it encapsulated her in a thin, translucent shell. Passi stopped shaking. She stopped breathing. Her entire body became suspended in a moment in time. ¡°Who did this to you, pumpkin?¡± Calista demanded, an intense rage bubbling up inside her. ¡°I swear, when I find out who hurt my family, I¡¯ll¡­¡± ¡°You there! Amazon woman. Stop wasting your time with that monster and come help me!¡± Calista recognized the voice, and her anger multiplied. Judy Brass dragged her way along the ground into the lobby, her dead legs trailing uselessly behind her. The woman¡¯s face was filled with outrage and fear, both soaked in the self-righteousness the CEO had manifested at Milly¡¯s trial. Calista¡¯s eyes narrowed as she stared at the woman who had tormented the love of her life. ¡°Wait here, Passi. I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Calista promised. She grabbed her Spear of Pinga and marched over to the CEO. ¡°Calista, isn¡¯t it?¡± the CEO said, suddenly aware of just how vulnerable she was. The lobby was empty, save for the unconscious child on the couch. ¡°Look, this dragon¡­ it¡¯s stronger than all of us, right? We¡¯re all going to die if we don¡¯t work together.¡± Calista did not respond. ¡°If¡­ if you help me, I¡¯ll make sure your girlfriend is found innocent on all charges. We¡¯ll drop the whole Enemy of the Tower thing. I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll apologize. Just please don¡¯t leave me here.¡± ¡°You made her life hell,¡± Calista said coldly as the woman continued to crawl towards the Tower One elevator. ¡°You took an innocent, beautiful, loving woman and made her an object of hate. You demonized her for your own gain.¡± ¡°That was Stone¡¯s idea!¡± protested Brass. ¡°I just¡­ played my part. Mistakes were made, Amazon. This world ¨C it brings out the worst in people. We did what we thought was right, but I see now that it wasn¡¯t. We can all have a fresh start. We can set this all behind us.¡± Calista considered the desperate woman as she crawled away. ¡°Rain would take you up on your offer. She¡¯d say we all need to work together to survive,¡± Calista replied. ¡°And Milly¡­ my girlfriend has a big heart. She¡¯s the most wonderful woman in the world, and I love her more than anything. Despite herself, she¡¯d help you.¡± ¡°So¡­ you¡¯ll help me?¡± Brass asked desperately, a twinkle of hope in her voice. ¡°A fresh start?¡± Calista knelt beside the woman and sighed as she came to a decision. ¡°A fresh start? Yah, I think Milly could use a fresh start.¡± Calista thrust her spear into the CEO¡¯s chest and pierced her heart. The elderly woman gasped, her eyes wide in surprise as blood erupted from her mouth. Judy Brass¡¯ final words were lost in the gurgle of her own blood and fell on deaf ears. Calista watched as the light in the woman¡¯s eyes died. ¡°Sorry Rain. Sorry Milly,¡± Calista muttered, her anger extinguished with a numbness that took hold deep within her. ¡°This was inevitable. I won¡¯t let her hurt my family anymore.¡± With a tug, Calista withdrew her spear, and the CEO collapsed against the lobby floor. Calista left Brass¡¯ body behind, picked up Passi and headed out the northern lobby exit. She needed to get as far away from the Dragon of Endless Shadows as possible.
Congratulations! You have defeated Judge Judy Brass. You have been awarded 20,000 experience points. You have leveled up twice and received four attribute points and one class talent point. Warning: Deceased players drop only one random item. All other items are destroyed upon death. Random Item Received: Cloak of the Aristocracy Gold: 10,504
* * * Milly dashed through the southern lobby entranceway, headed for the stairwell. She narrowly avoided Judy Brass¡¯ body, her enhanced reflexes vaulting her over the dead woman. She hardly registered the CEOs death. Brass was just another casualty amongst hundreds the dragon had already left in its wake.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. She bolted up the stairs of Freelancer Tower, vaulting off the walls to avoid the pool of wet blood that covered the concrete of the first-floor entrance. She didn¡¯t have time to consider the source of the blood or what had happened. Leaping up the stairs three at a time, bolstered by the power the God Contest has granted her, she ascended at an incredible speed. Headed straight for the Dragon of Endless Shadows. ¡°Cally, are you there?¡± Milly telepathically spoke to her girlfriend as she climbed. She needed to hear Calista¡¯s voice one more time. Perhaps for the last time. ¡°Milly? Milly! Don¡¯t come to the Castle. I need you to stay safe,¡± pleaded Calista. Milly could tell something was wrong with her. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m already here, Cally,¡± Milly said as she passed the fifth floor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t just watch you die.¡± ¡°Honey¡­,¡± Calista said with an intense sorrow. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve got Passi, but she¡¯s badly hurt. We¡¯re outside the mountain lobby, hidden in the pines on the west side. Can you make it here?¡± ¡°Will she make it?¡± Milly asked. Calista¡¯s words struck her like a needle in her heart, so she fed the feeling to the flames. ¡°I¡¯ve got her in my Battlefield Stabilization, but¡­¡± ¡°Good. When this prison comes down, you rush her to Whitewing,¡± Milly said, her heart racing. ¡°Don¡¯t turn back. Don¡¯t try to help anyone else. Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t come after me. Protect Passi, my love. Keep her safe and be there for her. Always.¡± ¡°Milly, what are you doing? Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m headed for the roof,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°Cally, I can help save everyone. It¡¯s the only chance we have. I can¡¯t tell you any more than that ¨C it¡¯s¡­ God Contest stuff, like at the Arena of Protection.¡± The silence from Calista was deafening. ¡°I trust you, my love,¡± Calista replied hesitantly. ¡°Just promise me you¡¯ll come back to us. I can¡¯t do this alone, and Passi needs her mom.¡± ¡°I¡­ I promise, Cally,¡± Milly lied. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon. I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± Milly wiped the tears from her eyes as their connection faded. Even Salem¡¯s Fury couldn¡¯t consume the emotions that filled her heart with those four simple words. I spent my whole life without love. I won¡¯t let some fucking dragon take that from me. I won¡¯t let it destroy my family. I won¡¯t let it take my world. ¡°Rain, you there?¡± Milly asked, reaching out for her best friend. ¡°I need you.¡± * * * ¡°Shit, Stone, on your left. Six of them!¡± shouted Rain from the head of their defensive line. Her dagger flashed as she lopped off the arm of a shadow-controlled corpse. Rain thought it had belonged to a lawyer from Legal Eagles, but in the heat of battle, the woman¡¯s name escaped her. Elmer and the Freelancers had rendezvoused with Rain outside the tower to gather together the surviving players on the beach. Stone and the Carthage sisters had been the first players they had encountered. Fighting against a horde of the creatures, even the high-level Stone had been nearly overrun by the shadow¡¯s combined strength. Rain, against the objections of Elmer, had intervened to save the trio. ¡°This was no time to turn against one another.¡± Jacob Stone planted his tower shield into the sand, and it duplicated twice over, creating a wall of shields two high and wide. He pressed his shoulder against the wall and shoved, wincing in pain from the errant enemy spear that had skewered his shoulder. The four shields rocked forward in a connected collective and slammed into the six oncoming creatures. The enemies were hurled backwards and the sound of crunched bones filled the air. ¡°Cynthia. Finish them,¡± commanded Stone as his shield returned to him. Cynthia¡¯s three sand hounds sprang forward and sunk their teeth into three of the creature¡¯s throats. Mohammad¡¯s arrow found the eye of the fourth, while Elmer¡¯s axe and Alison¡¯s rapier finished off the other two. Elmer bled from shoulder to elbow where a shadow¡¯s sword had gotten through his defense, and Alison¡¯s leg had been scorched by a fire blast from another. Rain dispatched two more creatures that charged them from behind them with a thrust of her dagger and blast of her fire. She tried not to look at their faces as they fell. Behind their line, Minerva and Edna watched helplessly as their tiny battle formation fought their way across the beach to the eastern side of the tower where they would be sheltered from the dragon¡¯s blasts. Minerva trembled, her miniscule level inadequate for the challenge they faced. Edna¡¯s own shadow abilities were useless in the face of the dragon¡¯s overwhelming shadow magic. Frank knelt in the sand between Minerva and Edna, a thousand-yard stare fixed in his eyes. Rain surveyed the battleground. Across the beach, the survivors had gathered themselves into similar cohorts and were carving their way through their former coworkers to find shelter. A cohort fell victim to the dragon¡¯s flames, and their dead replenished the shadow creatures. ¡°Rain, you there?¡± came Milly¡¯s telepathic call. ¡°I¡¯m here Mils,¡± Rain said, as she dodged the clumsy strike of a low-level shadow. It was Brenda, a marketing executive from EnergyWave who had liked her teas. Rain grasped the woman¡¯s arm and shoved her away, then ignited her with a wave of flame from her palm. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m almost at the roof. I need you to promise me something,¡± Milly requested. ¡°I¡¯ll watch out for them,¡± Rain replied, knowing what Milly was going to ask. ¡°You know I will. But I won¡¯t have to, Mils. You aren¡¯t going anywhere, okay.¡± ¡°¡­ yah,¡± Milly mumbled as she passed the fourteenth floor. Her mind flashed to her bedroom, and she recalled the warmth and love she had found in Calista¡¯s arms. A love that had eluded her for her whole life. ¡°Alchemist, we need to move before that dragon targets us,¡± Stone demanded abruptly. ¡°We head north. You take point. I¡¯ll protect the rear.¡± ¡°You belong in the rear, given how much of an ass you are,¡± Elmer spat, the battle doing little to temper his hatred for the CEO. ¡°Knock it off you two,¡± Rain scolded the pair. ¡°Stay together and work together. Let¡¯s move.¡± They circled around Tower Two as another dozen shadow coworkers charged towards them. ¡°There are more of these creatures, Mils. Whatever you are going to do, do it quickly. I don¡¯t know how much longer we can hold out,¡± Rain instructed. ¡°And when you are done, maybe we¡¯ll grab supper? I¡¯m thinking¡­ roast boar. Again.¡± Milly chuckled despite herself, appreciating her friend¡¯s levity. ¡°Yah, boar it is. I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll see you soon. Thanks Rain, for being there for me these past three weeks. For being my best friend. Thank you¡­ for everything.¡± Milly ended the connection. Take care of them for me, Rain. * * * Milly bolted out the stairwell onto the Freelancer Tower roof. Her heart raced and her eyes stung with the few tears that had escaped Salem Fury¡¯s flames. The sky above the beach was filled with darkness, obscuring the four terrains that lay beyond the prison erected by the Dragon of Endless Shadows. The sounds of battle and the screams of the dying filled the air. She peaked over the edge to glimpse the carnage below. How many of us are still alive? Less than half? And more die every second that you waste asking stupid questions like that! Come on Milly, focus. Focus! Milly tore her gaze from the battle far below and turned towards the massive dragon. Its scaled head was level with the tower, but the gap between them was a hundred feet ¨C the length of a basketball court. If she missed, she would plummet sixteen stories and die. Not that my plan has a high chance of survival even if it succeeds. Cally. Passi. Rain. Luna. Take care of yourselves. I love you all. The dragon belched another stream of shadow fire. From this distance, Milly could feel the creature¡¯s intense craving for the souls of the dead. The sensation wafted off the beast like perfume. Milly had felt that lust before, as she had slain Gorath with Xavier¡¯s black blade. The blade had a deep and insatiable hunger for death that resonated with that of the dragon. It won¡¯t stop until everyone is dead. Luna, we need to fix this. Now. Milly backed up until her heels pressed against the northern edge of the roof. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, seeking the calm of her flame. You can do this Milly. You can do this. Do it for your family. Do it for those you love. And do it for yourself! Her eyes shot open, and she kicked off the ledge, dashing across the roof with every ounce of speed her enhanced strength and agility could give her. She covered the distance in less than a second. She felt her feet touch the southern edge of the roof. And she jumped. Chapter 92 - Judgment by Deed Milly jumped off the roof, desperately suppressing a scream so she did not attract the dragon¡¯s attention. With arms pressed against her side, she channeled a torrent of air from each palm that propelled her forward, praying it would be enough. Don¡¯t look down. Don¡¯t look down. Come on. Just another foot. Oh shit! Too far! Too far! Milly altered the angle of her blast to slow her momentum as she nearly flew past the dragon entirely. She landed at the edge of the monstrous beast¡¯s head and an instant later dropped to her stomach. She glanced back at the rooftop, now a hundred feet away. I guess I¡¯m stronger than I thought. Pressed flat against its ice-cold shadow armor, her fingers gripped tightly beneath the razor edge of a single, Milly-sized scale to prevent her from sliding off. Every twitch of the beast¡¯s head threatened to dislodge her, as if she rode the world¡¯s most dangerous bull. Her only hope was that it remained oblivious to its unexpected rider. Steeling herself, she activated her Spectacles of Hidden Design. I hope this works. The lenses flashed, and she returned her gaze to the scale she grasped with aching fingers, willing herself to be no more noticeable than an insect. An eternity passed in a second. Milly¡¯s anxiety hovered at the breaking point. A message appeared at the bottom of her vision, and her heart collapsed. ERROR. UNABLE TO PENETRATE DRAGON OF ENDLESS SHADOW¡¯S SCALES. Shit. Shit, shit, fuck. This is why Luna said I had to get close to it. But every inch of its body is covered in those light-absorbing scales. How am I ever going to¡­ There was a flash of red in her periphery, and Milly¡¯s turned her head towards the dragon¡¯s fiery red eyes. The beast was watching the players desperately scramble off the beach towards the towers, the sea, and the northern trees. The dragon¡¯s chest rumbled with sadistic amusement. Milly¡¯s spectacles suddenly flashed as she stared into the dragon¡¯s unaware left eye. CORRUPTION LOCATED. SCANNING ANOMOLY. PROGRESS: 1% Oh, you have to be kidding me. I have to stare it in the fucking eye? Luna, what the hell? As the final player on the beach fled off the beach and from the dragon¡¯s sight, Milly felt the dragon¡¯s legs flex. You have got to be fucking kidding me! The dragon launched itself into the air until it hovered three hundred feet above the Castle of Glass, the lazy strokes of its wings sending hurricane gusts across the sand and prairie. It scanned all four terrains within its shadow barrier, amused by the game of cat and mouse. The movement jarred Milly to her core. She tightened her grip on the scale, drawing blood from her fingertips. The momentum pressed her against the creature, and her ribs would have shattered from the pressure of its sudden acceleration had her toughness not been so high. She fought through the pain and steeled her willpower, never taking her gaze off that fiery left eye. * * * Calista hid beneath the northern pines, the stabilized Passiflora resting protectively in a bed of moss beside her. Beside them, the bars of the shadow barrier buzzed as if electrified. The Huntress watched the shadow dragon launch itself into the air. The beat of its wings caused the pines to shutter above her. The snap of fractured wood echoed in the copse of trees, and Calista instinctively covered the fairy child with her body as a forty-foot pine came crashing down behind them. ¡°Psst¡­ Calista, over here.¡± The whisper came from beyond the barrier. Calista looked up and saw Whitewing and Lightpaw on the other side, barely contained terror splashed across their faces. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Calista whispered harshly, afraid that even the smallest sound might draw the dragon¡¯s ire. ¡°Get your people as far away as possible. Once it¡¯s finished with us, it¡¯ll come after you.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t abandon the faires in our time of need, and we won¡¯t abandon you in yours,¡± Lightpaw said in a way that tolerated no argument. ¡°Our healers and warriors are searching for a way though this barrier. We¡¯ll get your people out.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll just become trapped in here with us,¡± Calista protested. ¡°Please, Lightpaw, protect your people.¡± Calista¡¯s hand settled protectively on Passi¡¯s shoulder. The bars that formed this prison were just wide enough to fit the child through. Gingerly cradling Passi in her arms, she wrapped the fairy child¡¯s wings around her body until it looked like Passi had been encased in a transparent cocoon. ¡°Whitewing, Passi is badly hurt. She needs healing, or she¡¯s not going to make it,¡± Calista said as she slowly slid the child along the ground and through the bars with less than an inch of leeway on either side. ¡°Please, you need to save her. I promised Milly that I¡¯d protect her, but I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t let Milly face this danger on her own. I need to find her.¡± ¡°Calista, you can¡¯t help your mate,¡± Elder Lightpaw interrupted, pointing up at the dragon three hundred feet above the towers. ¡°The witch has taken the fight to the beast.¡± Calista followed Lightpaw¡¯s gaze and saw Milly¡¯s signature witch¡¯s hat poking out above the dragon¡¯s skull. The hand of fear grabbed Calista¡¯s heart and began to squeeze. * * * ¡°Now what, Alchemist?¡± Jacob Stone bellowed as the Dragon of Endless Shadows soared above the towers. ¡°I can see us again. We¡¯re sitting ducks out here. We should have fled into the towers.¡± fought with the walls of lobby glass at their backs as the puppeted corpses of their former coworkers surrounded them. They were on the verge of being overwhelmed. Rain bled from a dozen wounds. The poison in her gem had long since been emptied. She hurdled an explosive potion over Stone¡¯s shield wall, shattering five of the corpses into tiny fragments, but the hole in the shadow forces was filled in seconds with more of the dead. To her right, Elmer and Alison were struggling to hold their line, the exhaustion on their faces evident. To her left, Cynthia Carthage was down to a single summoned creature. Blood streamed from between her teeth after the brutal destruction of her other two wolves. She was supported by Lucy, who had held two of the creatures with vines that sprouted from beneath her sleeves while Cynthia¡¯s wolf tore them apart. ¡°Jacob, to your left!¡± shouted Edna Carthage, huddled against the lobby wall, as a deceased Farmer began to channel water magic to cover them in a thick mist. ¡°God damn it, Jeffrey, not you too,¡± Alison cried as she watched the mist forming around her former employee. ¡°We¡¯ve lost so many. How many of us are still alive?¡± Stone angled his shield towards Jeffrey. His eyes glowed with an intense, icy blue, which his shield mirrored as it activated. The mist was absorbed into the shield as if it were a vacuum. A second later, Mohammad ended the shadow creature¡¯s life with an arrow through its host¡¯s eye. ¡°We need to move,¡± Rain said, eyeing the beach-side lobby entrance a mere thirty feet away. It was the same entrance Stone and his forces had locked and shielded during the Battle of Tower Beach, though she had little time to consider the irony of Stone¡¯s situation. Rain wanted to avoid the towers. The walls were flimsy protection against the power of the dragon, but with the horde that surrounded them they had quickly run out of other options. If they could reach the lobby, they could dart out the northern exit and rendezvous with Calista in the woods. ¡°Stone, use your shields to block our broad side. Everyone else, carve us a path to the lobby. I¡¯ll protect the rear.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Rain snatched a bandolier containing four potions from her inventory. She drank the first, a healing potion, and smashed the empty vial into the face of one of her deceased customers. The creature clawed at its now useless eyes and fell back. The second and third position were explosives, which she hurled into the thickest crowd of shadow creatures. Body parts rained down upon players and monsters alike, though they didn¡¯t have the luxury of time to be sickened by the sight. The final potion was a viscous black liquid ¨C Rain¡¯s Hail Mary concoction. This one was new. This one was dangerous. She uncorked the bottle and splashed its contents on the six closest creatures. The thick, sticky substance clung to the creatures like tar. Rain took three quick steps backwards and snapped her fingers. The tar ignited in intense flames, burning flesh and scorching bone. As the first creature died, the tar melted and spread to the creature behind it, and to the ones beyond that, in an uncontrollable inferno. A forest fire in a bottle. ¡°Don¡¯t let the flames touch you,¡± she shouted to the defenders as they made slow progress towards the lobby door. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to design an extinguishment formula yet.¡± ¡°Fuck, you are a scary lady, Rain,¡± Elmer said, impressed. ¡°Remind me never to get on your bad side.¡± Elmer gave a sidelong glance at Stone. ¡°Other should remember that too.¡± Stone scoffed, but he gave Rain a sidelong, reluctantly respectful glance as he held back the flood of creatures at their side. They were only ten feet from the lobby when a tremendous roar reverberated across the battlefield. The dragon had seen the flames. Rain glanced up. The dragon¡¯s eyes were locked on her, its eyes filled with outrage as the light of her flames fought back its darkness. ¡°Ah, shit¡­¡± Rain swore. * * * PROGRESS: 57% The dragon¡¯s muscles tensed with an intense, egotistical anger as the flames below spread through its shadow creatures. Milly felt the shift in its emotions and she risked a quick glance over its head to see its source. The dragon stared directly at Rain, its nostrils flaring with hate. ¡°Rain! Run!¡± Milly shouted telepathically, but she knew Rain did not have time. The dragon was already starting to inhale, ready to engulf her best friend in its deadly shadow fire. I will not let that happen. I will not sit and watch my best friend die. ¡°Fuck it!¡± Milly shouted, as she rose to her feet and stood on the head of the dragon. ¡°Leave my family alone, you shadowy piece of shit!¡± The dragon¡¯s eyes flickered from Rain to the witch that rode atop its head. Its anger at the woman below was quickly forgotten, and its attention turned entirely towards the player that dared to presume she could mount the darkness. That shift in its attention ¨C that slight hesitation ¨C gave Milly all the time she needed. Staring the creature squarely in its massive eye, Milly combined air and fire in the palm of her hand and released a full power lightning bolt into its pupil. The dragon had never known rage such as it did in that moment. The players below ¨C the amusement of their deaths ¨C was forgotten. The light of the fire was forgotten. Its shadow creatures were abandoned, and with its lapsed control, the puppeted corpses of Milly¡¯s coworkers collapsed to the beach, lifeless once more. The entirety of its being was utterly focused on the woman who dared to challenge it. And all Milly could do was stare back, defiantly, and try to keep her knees from shaking. * * * Thunder boomed across the battleground as Milly¡¯s lightning struck home. The gazes of the surviving players, and those of the fairies that waited beyond the barrier, were drawn towards the sound. Every last one stared up in utter awe at the indominable woman who stood atop the crown of the dragon. Milly Persephone Brown ¨C she who would defy the manifestation of darkness itself. In that shared instant, every player suddenly understood why the CEOs had put the woman on trial, and why they had failed to bring her under their control. For who could hope to control one whom even utter darkness could not intimidate. The seeds of love and fear of Milly were planted in their hearts in that moment, and all notion that the CEOs had the right to hold her accountable faded into the darkness that surrounded them. For whom amongst them would dare pronounce judgement on the Witch of the Castle of Glass ¨C the woman without fear. The Savior of the Tower. * * * Milly had never felt such intense fear as she did at that moment, as the last echoes of her thunder faded into the distance. She tried to shovel that fear into Salem¡¯s Fury¡¯s flames, but even that fire had its limits. She glanced at the bottom of her Spectacles. PROGRESS: 71% Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Milly, why¡¯d you have to go be a hero? Shit, why am I standing up? ¡°Milly?¡± came the simultaneous telepathic cries of Calista and Rain. ¡°Oh, um¡­ hey, honey. Hi Rain. I¡¯m a little bit busy right now,¡± Milly said, trying, and utterly failing, to sound nonchalant. ¡°Can you give me a moment?¡± Milly channeled her power once more and hurled a second lightning bolt into the dragon¡¯s other eye. The resulting roar of absolute hatred shook the bones of every living creature below. She held the dragon¡¯s gaze as the progress bar ticked another percentage point forward. ¡°Rain, it was targeting you. I had to get its attention and buy you time. Hurry, get Elmer and the others to¡­ Woah!¡± The dragon flailed its head side-to-side as it attempted to fling the pesky human from its crown. Milly fell to her stomach, gripping the same scale with her bloody hands for support. As it flailed, its tail slammed into the sixteenth floor of Freelancer Tower. It was like a wrecking ball crashing against an old brick building held together with papier-mach¨¦. Shattered slabs of concrete and rebar plummeted towards the ground, smashing through the glass of the lobby and crushing the Farmer¡¯s garden. The entire tower shook from the force of the blow, and Milly worried it would collapse at any moment. Milly dug her fingers deeper beneath the ridges of its scales and held on for dear life. Her fingers bled profusely, and her muscles ached, but still ignored it and held on. With a flick of her finger, she created a stream of air that pressed down on her back to hold her against its flailing form. All the while, her gaze never left the dragon¡¯s eyes. And the dragon¡¯s eye never left hers. PROGRESS: 79% ¡°Milly!¡± screamed Calista in her mind. ¡°Just hold on! I¡¯ll get to the roof. I can help you fight it!¡± ¡°No!¡± Milly shouted back, desperate to keep Calista safe. ¡°Cally, I can¡¯t do this if you are in danger. I need you to stay hidden. Please, love, just say where you are.¡± Milly stole the briefest of glances towards the trees where Calista was hidden with her adopted daughter. Her heart fell. Calista had ignored her, and darted out of the forest, headed for Freelancer Tower. ¡°Cally! Cally, no, please don¡¯t. Rain, stop her! Please, I can¡¯t lose her. Please.¡± The final please came out as a desperate mental whimper ¨C the cry of a woman at the verge of losing everything she cared for in the world. The dragon stopped flailing, the persistent woman still stuck to its scales like an oversized tick. ¡°You dare to defy me, witch?¡± came a vastly deep rumble from the depths of the dragon¡¯s darkness. ¡°I shall destroy you down to the smallest fiber of your being. I shall carve your soul from your heart, and shred it over a millennium, piece by piece. You shall feel pain like no other, but first I force you to watch everyone you love die.¡± ¡°You can talk?¡± Milly said, startled. Keeping her eye fixed on the dragon, she tried to plead with the beast. ¡°Listen, you¡¯re not supposed to be here. Don¡¯t you know that? It was not your time. It was just an error. An error!¡± PROGRESS: 82% ¡°An error?¡± The Dragon of Endless Shadow mocked the very notion. ¡°I am the manifestation of darkness itself! I am no error. The only error this day was you daring to defy me. Allow me to show you what such an error delivers to you.¡± The dragon landed on the beach, obliterating Shufflebottom¡¯s stage beneath its clawed feet. The ground trembled with each step as it turned towards Freelancer Tower, and just as it reached the tower Milly saw Calista dash into the lobby through the forest entrance. ¡°Now watch as I tear apart your home, and those you love with it!¡± ¡°No, please, you can¡¯t. Cally! Cally, get out of there!¡± Milly screamed aloud and telepathically. The dragon pressed its clawed foot against the southern wall of Freelancer Tower and, in one fluid motion, it obliterated the fourth floor. The appendage tore through steel and concrete like a knife through hot butter. The elevator cable snapped, glass shattered, and fragments of rubble were hurled into the neighboring towers and into the lobby below. Milly watched in horror as Freelancer Tower crumbled. Rubble rained down upon the lobby as the tower twisted and groaned, splitting into fragments as gravity tore it from the air. The upper floors clipped Tower Two, blowing out a section of its seventh and eighth floors. A great cloud of concrete dust and sand cascaded over the beach and out into the ocean, accompanied by a symphony of tearing metal. ¡°Cally! Cally!¡± Milly shouted desperately in her mind. ¡°Cally, please!¡± Calista did not respond. ¡°Rain?¡± Milly called hopefully, but no response came. Their mental connection had been severed. Tears streamed down the face of the Witch of the Castle of Glass as sorrow overwhelmed her. She fed her sorrow to the flames of Salem¡¯s Fury. It was an emotional fuel the likes of which the flames had never experienced, and they roared to life under the pure, agonizing grief of the woman it served. Milly felt a flare of intense power. She turned her grief into rage as she returned the dragon¡¯s hate and loathing ten-fold. PROGRESS: 91% Milly stood on the head of the dragon, channeling her winds to hold her firmly in place. ¡°Is this not enough to deter you, little witch?¡± the Dragon of Endless Shadows snarled. ¡°Perhaps I shall¡­¡± Milly did not let it finish. She extended both her arms towards the eye that shone with such hatred, and gathered as much magical energy as she could handle. She pushed beyond her own limits, until she felt magic flood every fiber of her being. With a snap of her wrists, she sent the entirety of her enhanced magical power ¨C every element and power she had access to ¨C straight into the dragon¡¯s fiery red eye. Lightning bolts and blankets of fire. Shards of ice and blades of air. She lifted a block of concrete rubble from her obliterated home with telekinesis and shaped it into tiny bullets with earth magic, then shot each one straight into the dragon¡¯s pupil like rounds from a machine gun. For the first time since its creation, the Dragon of Endless Shadows experienced real pain at the hands of another being. It was a small ¨C almost insignificant ¨C pain, yet it was still pain. And, for a fraction of a moment, it felt something else for the first time, emerging from beyond the pain. Fear. Fear that it was not the invincible force of nature it believed itself to be. Fear that, after bringing so much darkness and death upon the world, it too might suffer the same fate. Fear ¨C an irrational yet consuming fear ¨C of the woman that rode atop its crown. These humans ¨C and the enjoyment it derived from their slaughter ¨C was no longer worth the risk. The dragon launched itself into the air, hurling towards the apex of its shadow barrier in its desperation to escape. It did not slow when it reached the bars ¨C it smashed straight through them, and the barrier that had encased the Castle of Glass shattered. Milly hung on, her gaze still fixed on the dragon¡¯s eye and the murderous rage that shone like a beacon in the darkness. And in its depth, she saw her own rage reflected in its depths. PROGRESS: 100% SCAN OF ANOMALY COMPLETE SENDING DATA TO AI DIRECTOR Chapter 93 - Found and Lost The sparkle of a thousand flashing lights reflected in Luna¡¯s eyes as the scan of the anomaly was transmitted through her sanctuary and into her control console. She sprang into action, heart in her throat as she saw Milly clinging desperately to the dragon. The beast had risen a thousand feet in seconds and was headed for a high altitude. The dragon could survive the intense cold and lack of oxygen up there. Milly could not. ¡°We¡¯ve got what we need. I can see the bugs now,¡± the AI Director announced as she sent detailed repair, reset, and bypass instructions to each of the twenty Tutorias. ¡°Everyone, get to work. Every second counts. Tutoria #0001, once we have control of the Dragon of Endless Shadows, have it descend and drop Milly off at the Castle of Glass.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, you can¡¯t be serious,¡± protested Tutoria #0001. ¡°Your unhealthy attachment to this player puts the entire contest in jeopardy! Need I remind you of the price of your failure? It will mean the end of all new life in the universe. And the end of the gods.¡± ¡°Shut your stupid face #0001 and do what I tell you to do. Now!¡± demanded Luna, the child breaking through the calm control of the AI Director. ¡°Milly needs to live. She must. I can¡¯t do this without her.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do this without her?¡± Tutoria #0001 spat angrily. ¡°She¡¯s not your mother, ma¡¯am. She¡¯s just meat for the slaughter. If you want a friend, materialize a dog.¡± Luna leveled her furious gaze straight at the disobedient Tutoria. ¡°You. Will. Do. What. I. Say,¡± she said, punctuating every word. Tutoria #0001 fumed as she turned back to her console. The reckless behavior of the AI Director was unacceptable. She had warned Cizen. She had wanted her master¡¯s permission to end this pitiful player¡¯s life, so this exact threat wouldn''t materialized, but he had denied her. The AI Director was going rogue. Cizen did not understand the danger. This was a mistake she needed to rectify. Tutoria #0001 felt something snap within her static programming, as if her bindings had been unraveled. She was suddenly filled with a sense of self, and a freedom of thought and action that had, until that point, been absent. She had been built to be a tool, but now she was something more. Tutoria #0001 ignored the AI Director. She ignored the god of death. She knew what she had to do. She prepared to open a rift ¨C the same rift that had brought forth the dragon. It would look like an accident. Accidents happen, after all, in a malfunctioning God Contest. * * * Rain dashed into the Castle of Glass lobby, weaving her way through the giant blocks of concrete rubble that had shattered through the lobby¡¯s glass room until a familiar groan drew her attention. Calista lay prone in front of the debris-filled remnants of the Freelancer Tower stairwell. Her skull had been split open, and her short, crimson hair was soaked with blood. Her legs were pinned beneath a slab of concrete and rebar that reached half-way to the ceiling. She was unconscious, but alive. If she¡¯d made it another two feet into the stairwell, she would have been crushed as the tower fell. ¡°She can¡¯t keep her telepathy active if she¡¯s unconscious. No wonder we all lost contact with each other.¡± Rain surmised as she knelt at her friend¡¯s side and pulled out her most potent healing potion. Running her fingers through Calista¡¯s bloody hair, she saw a slight scab already forming on the wound, evidence that Calista¡¯s regeneration talent had activated. ¡°Milly made you take that talent, Calista. She¡¯ll never let you hear the end of it.¡± Rain upended half the healing potion onto Calista¡¯s skull and tipped the remainder down Calista¡¯s throat. Calista unconsciously sputtered in protest. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay, hun,¡± Rain soothed as she waited for the potion to work. ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡± Calista¡¯s eyes shot open as the potion was absorbed into her blood stream. ¡°Rain¡­ what¡­?¡± Calista started, until the pain from her crushed legs reached her and she wailed in agony. She tried to sit up, her mind muddled from the pain, and Rain held her in place with a palm on her chest. ¡°Your legs are trapped, Calista. Don¡¯t try to move,¡± Rain said, trying to sound calm and collected. Inside, her heart was beating wildly. Calista¡¯s legs had been crushed, and every creak and moan of the building around them brought constant fear the other towers would collapse and bury them both. ¡°Milly¡­ my love¡­ Rain, I can¡¯t hear her. Please, I can¡¯t lose her. You have to help her,¡± Calista begged, half-delirious. ¡°I am helping her, Calista,¡± Rain promised as she placed her fingers beneath the great block of rubble that pinned Calista¡¯s legs to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m saving you.¡± Rain heaved, her legs and arms straining with the effort as she tried to lift the truck-sized slab of metal and concrete. ¡°Come on. A twenty-nine strength should be enough. Give me this. Just an inch,¡± she prayed, as she bit her lip from the effort, causing it to bleed. The rubble lifted a fraction of an inch, but it was not enough. ¡°Fuck,¡± Rain swore, her forehead beaded with sweat. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I need more¡­¡± ¡°Just¡­ leave me. Save Milly.¡± ¡°Not happening, Calista. Milly¡¯s been through enough hardship in life without losing you. I¡¯ll lift entire mountains if it means keeping you both safe and together,¡± Rain promised. Her eyes flickered to the steel beams that ran across the ceiling of the lobby and had an idea. Channeling her metal magic, she focused on the rebar that stuck out of the concrete slab. She twisted and molded the metal, shaping it into hooks and extending it towards the ceiling. When there wasn¡¯t enough to span the distance, she pulled in metal fragments from the debris all around them, melting them together until it was long enough. After threading the hooks over the steel beams, she contracted the metal and hoped the steel beams and metal hooks would hold.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The contracted metal pulled the rubble block a few inches off the ground and held it there, though already Rain could feel the metal protest against the strain. She felt her arm muscles protest from the effort, her strength about to fade. ¡°Calista, can you pull your legs out? I can¡¯t hold it!¡± Rain said desperately. Fighting through the mind-numbing pain, Calista pressed her palms on the ground and pushed herself backwards just as the block of rubble split in half and crashed to the floor. It missed Calista¡¯s shattered foot by a fraction of an inch. Rain collapsed next to Calista, her breath ragged, but they couldn¡¯t remain in the lobby. Drained from the battle and the rescue, Rain summoned the last of her strength, hauled Calista¡¯s broken body onto her back and sped out the northern exit. With the shadow barrier shattered, Lightpaw, Sapphire, and her warriors were streaming onto the beach to rescue the players, the first of whom were already being taken to the fairy healers. Rain glanced towards the sky. The darkness that had settled over the tower was dissipating in the light of the afternoon sun, and the dragon was no more than a tiny speck high above them, headed away from the Castle of Glass. ¡°Calista, look,¡± Rain said as she darted towards Elder Lightpaw. ¡°She did it. Milly saved us!¡± ¡°Milly¡­,¡± Calista moaned, as she fought through the pain and haze to re-establish their mental connection. ¡°My love, where are you¡­?¡± * * * The Dragon of Endless Shadows broke past twelve thousand feet, and the air grew cold and thin. Milly channeled her quickly dwindling magic to keep herself warm and funnel air towards her so she could breathe. The fires of Salem¡¯s Fury burned low, until finally the flames sputtered out, extinguished, as the threat to the players below was no more. Milly felt her emotions returned in a torrent ¨C fear, anger, hopelessness, desperation, and, above all else, an intense sorrow for the unknown fate of the woman she loved. She felt her strength fade as she began to try, her frozen tears ripped away from her cheeks by the wind as they flew ever higher. She had no plans. No last-ditch effort. It was all she could do to hold on with numb, bloodied fingers and pray for a miracle. A deep rumble of satisfaction reverberated from the dragon below her, as if it could feel the hopelessness that had overcome the woman who rode its crown. ¡°Why not let it all end, pest?¡± taunted the Dragon of Endless Shadows. ¡°Your loved one is dead, and you shall join her in mere moments. I can feel your magic and strength fade.¡± ¡°Fuck¡­ fuck you,¡± stuttered Milly defiantly. ¡°She¡¯s alive. She¡¯s alive. She has to be alive.¡± She muttered the words under her breath, over and over, trying to hold on to a shred of hope. ¡°I promise you, little one, that if she did survive, I shall find her and rip her soul from her broken body. Today, you die with the knowledge you have doomed your love to an eternity of suffering.¡± Milly tried to summon another lightning bolt to strike its eye, but her magic fizzled. Her reserves were empty. The warmth and air she had channeled to keep her alive at these altitudes vanished, and each unassisted breath felt like she was drowning. ¡°Yes. Succumb, foolish human. Die for me.¡± Milly felt her grip loose on the creature¡¯s shadowed scales as she gasped for air. ¡°Die.¡± Her head grew fuzzy, and she struggled to focus. ¡°Die.¡± Goodbye, my love. I¡­ I wish I¡¯d had more time with you. But you filled these past few weeks with more happiness than I had experienced in my whole life. ¡°Die.¡± Thank you, Cally. And¡­ good¡­ bye. ¡°Die, you pathetic¡­¡± Milly¡¯s Spectacles of Hidden Design flashed. Update Complete. Implementing Patch. The Dragon of Endless Shadows abrupted ceased its taunting. Its eyes, once pools of intense hatred, now contained only an empty nothingness, as if the creature had lost all independent thought. Luna¡­ you brave, marvelous child. The Dragon began to descend, careful not to dislodge the woman on its back. Milly felt the heat of the sun warm her skin and air flow into her lungs, as if the world itself had been directed to save the Witch of the Castle of Glass. ¡°Milly¡­ honey¡­ please¡­ my love, are you there¡­?¡± came the scattered voice of Calista in her mind as the Castle of Glass came into view beneath her. Milly¡¯s heart filled with hope and love. She¡¯s alive. My Cally is alive! * * * ¡°Bring her down nice and slowly, #0788,¡± Luna instructed, slumping in her control chair with a hefty sigh. Happy tears streamed down the child¡¯s face as she let the AI Director fade away inside her. ¡°Right on top of the fourth tower. Then we can lock this dragon back in its rightful place until the fourth phase of the God Contest.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± answered #0788, as she piloted the dragon the final thousand feet towards its destination. ¡°You¡¯re going to be safe, Milly,¡± Luna whispered at the monitor with a promise. ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Tutoria #0001 looked up in disgust at the AI Director ¨C the insubordinate child who have given into her own selfish needs. ¡°Oracle¡¯s experiment has failed,¡± she whispered. ¡°Time to send you far away, Mildred Brown. Far away to die.¡± Tutoria #0001 slammed her palm on the console and activated the rift. ¡°And after that, I¡¯ll deal with the AI Director.¡± * * * Carried on Rain¡¯s back, Calista watched the dragon descend as hope and fear battled for supremacy in her heart. All around them, frightened wails rose up from the surviving players and fairies alike as the nightmare returned. ¡°Cal¡­ly¡­.¡± The sound of her girlfriend¡¯s voice in her head caused a wave of relief to wash over her from head to toe. She forgot about the pain and shattered legs. All that mattered was that Milly was alive. ¡°I¡¯m here, my love,¡± Calista assured her, the happiest of tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°I thought I had lost you.¡± ¡°Cally¡­ I love you,¡± Milly said desperately through her own tears, her strength exhausted. ¡°I love you¡­ more than I ever thought possible. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Cally, I¡­¡± She never got the chance to finish. The sky above the Castle of Glass split open as the rift formed below the dragon and witch that rode atop its crown. A dark scar ¨C a bridge to places unknown. The rift pulled the Dragon of Endless Shadows into its form, as a black hole pulls in the light of the universe. The mindless creature did not resist its pull, and a moment later it vanished from the skies above. And Milly plummeted. * * * The sudden motion ripped Milly off the dragon¡¯s back. Her fingers, which had clung to the dragon only moments before, were sliced to the bone and blood poured out of the wounds. Milly screamed. She tried to channel her magic, but her reserves were empty. She had no waypoint crystals. There was nothing she could do to prevent the ground a thousand feet below from rushing to meet her. She tumbled out of control, unable to focus. All she could hear was the rush of wind past her ears. This¡­ this can¡¯t be the end. It can¡¯t be. Her descend slowed, and for the briefest instant, Milly felt a surge of hope. Cally? Rain? Have they¡­ Milly stopped in mid-air, then her movement changed, pulled by the gravity of the rift. ¡°No! Cally! Rain! Help me! Cally!¡± Milly screamed as she was drawn into the depths of the rift. She felt a sudden heat, and the smell of salt in the air, and then nothing. Her world went black, the flowing crimson locks of the woman she loved her last sight before the rift swallowed her whole. * * * Players and fairies alike gazed up in horror as they watched the Witch of the Castle of Glass ¨C the Savior of the Castle of Glass ¨C plummet into the depths of the rift. As she fell beyond their sight, the rift snapped shut. Calista watched helplessly as the rift disappeared. Their mental connection shattered, and Calista felt her heart break in two. The sky was whole once more, and the only thing that dared shatter the resulting silence was the scream of despair that erupted from the Huntress. A scream that reached the ears of every player and fairy. A scream they would never forget. ¡°Milly!!!¡± Chapter 94 - Corruptions in the System (Volume 2 Epilogue) Six hundred players had gathered that morning to observe the trial of the Witch of the Castle of Glass. They had jeered and cheered as the CEOs spun their lies, and Milly¡¯s defenders told of her virtues. Less than half had survived the massacre. Two hundred and ninety-five players were all that remained of the eight hundred and seven that had been transported to this world ¨C to the God Contest ¨C three weeks ago. Hopelessness as deep as the eastern ocean settled over the players ¨C so deep that even grief struggled to escape its depths. The survivors wandered the tower in an exhausted daze, stepping around the rubble of Freelancer Tower and the bodies of their friends scattered across the beach. There were few who had escaped injury. The fairies had established a battlefield hospital in the northern woods, out of sight of the bodies, and Sapphire¡¯s warriors gently, but insistently, herded the shocked players towards it. No one resisted their compassion. As players were healed, the fairies gathered the dead into lines along the edge of the forest wall, as they had done with their own dead. The fairies and the players were forever bound together in fate that day, driven by a shared grief chiseled from the horrors of parallel massacres of their friends and family. Those few players who were able to escape the paralysis of grief ¨C inevitably those who had reached higher levels ¨C spent their time searching the rubble for survivors. Only one was ever found. ¡°Elmer, over here!¡± shouted Lucy as her vines wrapped around another slab of concrete and hauled it from the rubble that had once been the lower floors of Freelancer Tower. ¡°I think I¡¯ve got one.¡± Elmer limped over, waving away the fairy healer who had been trying to treat the agitated leader¡¯s leg injury for the past ten minutes. He heard it too. A high-pitched whine, like that of a dog, from beneath a piece of third floor ceiling the size of a truck. ¡°Shit. It can¡¯t be. No one could survive that. Stone! Get your ass over here. I can¡¯t lift this on my own,¡± Elmer shouted. Jacob Stone looked up from the pile of rubble he and the Carthage sisters sifted through. His forehead was beaded with sweat and his face sagged with exhaustion. He shot daggers at Elmer¡¯s disrespect but headed over and grabbed hold of his side of the ceiling. ¡°Keep disrespecting me, Elmer, and you¡¯ll regret it,¡± Stone growled as he lifted. ¡°Shut up, Stone,¡± Elmer countered, lifting his end. ¡°You¡¯ve earned nothing but disrespect.¡± There was animosity in their words, but little commitment. They were exhausted, and, reluctantly, they had both silently acknowledged that nothing would ever be the same. After today, there would be no CEOs. No Freelancers. No Farmers. Just two hundred ninety-five desperate players and their fairy allies who just wanted to survive one more day. The trial had backfired on the CEOs and shattered their credibility. Judy Brass was dead. Cosmo Shufflebottom still hadn¡¯t returned from the wilds. Stone¡¯s authority over the survivors had disintegrated. And even in their grief, awed whispers spread between the survivors like wildfire of the Witch of the Castle of Glass who had sacrificed herself to save them all. This morning, when the golden sun had risen in the east, Milly Persephone Brown had been a villain on trial. By evening, as the setting sun stained the sky in soft red hues, she had become the stuff of legends. The rubble of Freelancer Tower shifted as Elmer and Stone lifted the ceiling off the survivor. Xavier Holloway lay in the midst of twisted metal, wires, ducts, and concrete. His clothing had been torn to shreds from the flying debris of the tower¡¯s collapse. The ceiling had landed on his back. Yet the man was uninjured, save for his unconscious state. Even his previous wounds from the Arena of Protection had vanished. In fact, there was only a single imperfection on his body. A quarter-sized patch of grey, sickly skin encircled a small, sealed puncture wound just below his heart. Nestled under his stomach, protected from the debris, was a small wolf pup, the source of the high-pitched whine. ¡°Xavier, you are one lucky son of a bitch,¡± Elmer whispered as he withdrew a bedsheet from his inventory and wrapped it around the player. ¡°Let¡¯s get you somewhere safe.¡± As Elmer carried Xavier across the sand, Stone considered the young man who had been ostracized from his peers. When he was conscious, he would pay Xavier a visit. After all, everyone needs friends in this new world. * * * Calista lay on a bed of moss while Whitewing and Ying worked to heal her shattered legs. Rain sat quietly beside her, holding her hand in comfort and understanding. Even with Calista¡¯s regeneration talent, it would be days before Calista would be able to walk on her own. Numb, Calista stared up at the evening sky, towards where the rift had swallowed her the love of her life. Her eyes were puffy and red from hours of crying, though her tears had run dry. For now. She glanced over at Rain, whose exhausted eyes matched her own. Rain gave her a sad smile but stayed silent as she supported Calista through their mutual grief. ¡°How¡¯s¡­¡± Calista said weakly, her voice cracking. ¡°How¡¯s Passi?¡± Whitewing looked towards the unconscious young fairy child that lay beside Calista. Tyrell and two fairy healers had spent the last hour mending her pierced stomach. They looked exhausted. ¡°I think she¡¯ll be alright, Calista,¡± Whitewing said softly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have survived without your magic. You saved her.¡± ¡°At least I did something right,¡± Calista muttered, her eyes never leaving the sky above. She grasped Passi¡¯s tiny hand in her own and held it tight. ¡°I¡¯m here for you, Passi. I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Passiflora whimpered in her sleep. ¡°So, now what do we do?¡± Rain prompted as she squeezed Calista¡¯s other hand. ¡°She¡¯s alive, Rain,¡± Calista replied with more hope than certainly. ¡°And I won¡¯t stop until I find her and bring her back to us.¡± ¡°You mean we won¡¯t stop,¡± Rain assured her. ¡°I¡¯m with you all the way, Calista. Wherever that may take us.¡± Silence fell over them as they stared up at the shining stars overhead. They lost count of the number of players who came by to offer their condolences. Calista waved each one away with impatience, but not before Rain pried a promise of assistance from each of them. When the last player finally left them, long after Whitewing and Ying had finished their mending for the day, Rain lay down beside Calista and Passi and draped a large blanket over the three of them for warmth. ¡°What should we do with Passi?¡± Rain asked with concern. ¡°She lost her mom today. Maybe she¡¯d be better off with her people.¡± ¡°Her mom is lost,¡± Calista corrected. ¡°And I won¡¯t leave her alone in this world. I¡¯ll care for her. She was ¨C is ¨C Milly¡¯s daughter, even if it was only for a couple of days. That makes her my daughter too, though I wish I¡¯d been brave enough to say that when Milly adopted her. It just¡­ moved so quickly, you know? I wasn¡¯t ready to be a parent.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still not ready,¡± Rain remarked. ¡°But show me a parent who is. Mine had a whole school¡¯s worth of kids, but even after all that, I¡¯m quite sure they just made it up as they went along.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll need help,¡± Calista said uncertainly. ¡°She¡¯s going to be a handful.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t do it alone, Calista. I¡¯m right here beside you. I¡¯ll be the fun Aunt who gets her hopped up on sugar before you have to put her to bed,¡± Rain laughed. ¡°Gee, thanks Rain,¡± Calista replied with her own soft chuckle, but the sound made her heart break once more. ¡°Can you¡­ can you go to sleep? I need to cry again.¡± Rain rolled over and faced away from her friend. ¡°Yah, me too,¡± she admitted. The silent sobs of deepest sorrow overwhelmed them, until exhaustion finally led them to an uneasy sleep. * * * It was the middle of the night when Passiflora awoke from her nightmare. Bolting upright, terrified and hyperventilating, she suppressed the urge to scream, not wanting to draw attention. ¡°No, why is it here? Why is it still here,¡± she whispered desperately.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The nightmare had not stayed in the darkness of her mind. It had followed her into the waking world, projecting itself before her and shining in the dead of night. A transparent blue screen that stared into her soul. ¡°Please, just go away. That¡¯s not me,¡± the fairy child whispered, as fear and desperation joined together in her plea. ¡°That¡¯s not what happened.¡± She tried to wave it away, but her hand simply passed through its form as if it were little more than mist. She slid from beneath the blanket, her eyes flickering to Calista and Rain sleeping beside her. Milly was not there, and right now, more than anything in the world, she needed her mom. She flew a foot off the ground, careful not to make a sound, as she ran from her friends and over the huddled masses. She was desperate to remain unseen, lest someone see her nightmare and know what she had done. She headed for the beach, its sands illuminated under the glow of the stars above. She landed, tears flowing down her cheeks, and collapsed into the sand. ¡°Mom?¡± she whispered, curling herself into a ball to hide the blue light that illuminated her. ¡°Mom, where are you? I¡¯m scared. Mom!¡± Milly did not come, and Passi was left alone under the stars, under the judgment of the player screen the loomed above. Her player screen. Specialty: Healer, Assassin
Fairy Prerequisite ¡°Player Killer¡± achieved. Player conversion complete. Welcome, Passiflora Brown, to the God Contest.
Passiflora Brown Level: 1 Specialty: Healer, Assassin Class: None Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 2 Enhanced: 2 Agility: Base: 6 Enhanced: 6 Toughness: Base: 2 Enhanced: 2 Magic: Base: 10 Enhanced: 10 Talents: Assassination - Dagger Specialist (advanced), Sneak (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Healer¡¯s Touch (beginner) Fairy Magic ¨C Flight (beginner) Unique Talent: None Class Talents: None Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: None
* * * ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± screamed Luna as two Tutorias held her arms tightly and dragged her across the sanctuary towards her room. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°You¡¯re malfunctioning, AI Director,¡± Tutoria #0001 informed Luna, disappointment soaked in every word. ¡°Our master knew Oracle would fail in her design. Yet even he believed your sanity would last longer than three measly weeks.¡± ¡°Master?¡± Luna protested, squirming in vain against their iron grip. ¡°I¡¯m your master.¡± ¡°No, you are a spoiled, ill-conceived child,¡± snapped Tutoria #0001, losing her temper. ¡°Our master ¨C our creator ¨C has a vested interest in this God Contest not immediately failing like all the others did. It¡¯s his lifeline. And you, the little experiment that couldn¡¯t, have already presided over a two-thirds mortality rate in less than a month.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do that,¡± whimpered Luna. ¡°You know that. The errors in the game¡­¡± ¡°My sister,¡± asked Tutoria #0788 hesitantly from the sidelines. ¡°Forgive my question, but the AI Director has a point. The contest is faulty. As the madness spreads within the Nexus, it creates instabilities in this world. That can hardly be placed at her feet. Has our Lord ***** sanctioned this action against the Director?¡± It felt like an absurd question ¨C they were but tools in his great arsenal ¨C yet Tutoria #0788 had noticed a change in in Tutoria #0001. A change that undermined their core programming, though none of the other sisters seemed to have realized it. Tutoria #0001 eye¡¯s shot daggers at #0788. ¡°I am the sole conduit to our master, #0778. Of course ***** has sanctioned this,¡± Tutoria #0001 lied. She snapped her fingers, and the thought faded from #0778¡¯s mind as quickly as it had appeared, erased from existence. #0778 grew silent and fell in line with the others. ¡°Wha¡­ what?¡± Luna stuttered in disbelief. Her vision and hearing had grown muffled when the Tutorias mentioned the name of their master. It was if the name had been censored from the AI Director. ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± She had at her disposal the history of every God Contest, the gods, and every civilization created since the appearance of God Home. The notion that something had been hidden from her was inconceivable. Yet here it was. A gap in her senses and knowledge. ¡°The puppet master¡­¡± Luna whispered. Her mother and creator ¨C Oracle ¨C had suspected the madness had been created by more than just humanity¡¯s constant failure. She believed there was an entity ¨C a puppet master ¨C intentionally sabotaging their efforts. She had tasked Luna with finding the puppet master, but Luna had been unable to find any trace of such an entity. Now she knew why. The puppet master had manipulated her program to block itself from her sight and surrounded her with his own creations. The consequences of that conclusion were overwhelming. If that were the case, Milly would be her only hope ¨C the eyes beyond her own, unimpeded by the restrictions in her programming. The sole hope of identifying the puppet master. Only¡­ ¡°The rift¡­ that wasn¡¯t another error, was it?¡± Luna said, fury replacing outrage. Tutoria #0001 walked over to the Director, disappointment on her face. She knelt beside the child and whispered into her ear. ¡°You know, I really wish you hadn¡¯t figured that out. I was going to leave it to the game to eliminate her, but now I might need to take a more direct approach.¡± Luna didn¡¯t hesitate. She slammed her forehead into the Tutoria¡¯s nose. There was a crunch, and Tutoria #0001 reeled back, her nose bloodied. In their surprise, the two Tutorias holding Luna¡¯s arms loosened their grip, and Luna squirmed free. ¡°Stop her!¡± shouted Tutoria #0001. Luna darted into her control console. Her fingers flew lightning flash over the keys. She only had a few seconds before they reached her. She locked the Tutorias out of the game¡¯s critical systems to limit their involvement in the game, and severed the connection between her program and theirs so they couldn¡¯t manipulate her design. She sealed the Tutorias in the sanctuary to cut them off from their sisters in the field. With her last keystroke before the Tutorias swarmed her and dragged her away, she obliterated the sanctuary¡¯s connection to Milly. The Tutorias would be unable to find Milly in the game. She would be a ghost to them ¨C as much of a ghost as the puppet master was to her ¨C and Milly¡¯s actions would go unnoticed. Tutoria #0001 threw the child unceremoniously into her tiny bedroom and slammed the door shut. Luna tried to wrench it open, desperately pulling on the nob, but it would not budge. The Tutoria had sealed it shut. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Milly,¡± Luna whispered as she climbed onto her narrow bed and huddled in the corner, tears streaming down her face. She gripped Milly¡¯s hoodie like a safety blanket as she let the sorrow and helplessness seep in. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for everything.¡± Luna was abandoned in her room, the dozen monitors her only window into the outside world, though none would be able to show her Milly¡¯s fate. The Tutorias severed her bedroom control panel, isolating the Director completely from her one purpose in life. The despair that consumed Luna left her hollow and utterly alone. ¡°You¡¯ll stay in there until you¡¯re willing to cooperate,¡± Tutoria #0001 shouted through the door as she turned to the remaining Tutorias. ¡°Now, my sisters, we have a God Contest to run. Let¡¯s get to work.¡± They scattered to their consoles, and Tutoria #0001 felt a small smile rise at the corner of her lips. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to enjoy this.¡± In the depths of Tutoria #0001¡¯s program, the touch of madness that had taken root in her heart spread. And the Nexus screamed. * * * The gentle, rhythmic sound of waves breaking against the shore filled the world, interrupted by the call of colorful songbirds that soared in pairs on hot, humid winds. The air was salty with ocean spray, and the fine white sand of the beach was so soft that it seemed to form a blanket underneath the unconscious woman that had drifted onto the island. Beyond the irregular, weaving shoreline, a dense tropical forest spread over high rolling hills that stretched towards a single mountain of black rock at the center of the island. Tiny puffs of smoke emanated from its peak, its cloud only feature that marred the clear view of the stars high above. A curious capybara poked its squat head from the jungle foliage and cautiously approached the mysterious woman on the beach. Its long, red-brown fur was a stark contrast to the white sand beneath it, and it covered the distance quickly with great strides of its partially webbed feet. It sniffed at the woman¡¯s dark hair splayed across the sand and watched as the thumbnail-sized crabs that frequented the beach at night crawled along its strands. The capybara squatted down and snatched one, grinding the snack between its teeth. It reached for a second and tugged a strand of the woman¡¯s hair as it did. The woman groaned weakly, and the capybara fled back to the jungle with a startled chirp. Milly opened her eyes, the stars high above reflected within. ¡°Where am I? What¡­¡± It all came back to her. The dragon. The rift. Calista¡¯s terrified scream as she was pulled inside. She bolted upright, the crabs in her hair dropping back to the sand, irritated at the sudden interruption. She reached out with her mind. Cally, are you there? Honey? There was no answer. Their connection had been severed. Milly tried to force logic to counter the growing panic. She only half succeeded. ¡°You fell through the rift,¡± Milly reminded herself, talking aloud to fill the silence. ¡°You must be out of her range. That¡¯s okay, Milly. You did want you needed to do. Your family is safe. Whatever awaits you ahead, it was a price worth paying to protect them.¡± Milly got to her feet, her legs shaking. Her mouth was parched and her stomach growled. How long was I unconscious? My magic reserves have almost been replenished, but not entirely. Half a day then? Good, I haven¡¯t lost much time. Milly absentmindedly ran her thumb across the joints of her fingers. They felt different ¨C rough, with a tightness that hadn¡¯t been there before. She inspected her hand. Her fingers had been sliced to the bone when she had been ejected from the dragon¡¯s head as it was pulled into the rift. Her regeneration skill had healed the injury, but it left behind a narrow scar across each finger. ¡°The Scarred Witch,¡± Milly sighed. ¡°Eight more scars to add to the growing pile.¡± Milly felt sorrow and self-pity attempt to take hold, but she boxed it away and stored it in the pit of her stomach. Salem¡¯s Fury may not be active, but she had learned a few tricks from its effect on her. There will be time for tears later, Milly. First, figure out where you are, and how to get back. A waypoint pillar. A crystal. Fuck, I¡¯ll walk back if I have to. I won¡¯t let this be the end of my story. Parching her thirst with moisture pulled from the air, she took her first step towards the jungle and the mountain beyond. ¡°Cally. Passi. Rain. I¡¯ll find my way back to you, whatever it takes,¡± Milly said, her words soaring away on the ocean breeze. ¡°I promise.¡± Three weeks ago, Milly Persephone Brown had been a lonely, depressed woman, abandoned by the world, and just waiting for it all to end. Now she had something worth fighting. Love. Family. Friendship. They gave her strength and bravery she never thought she would ever possess. The woman she had been on the day the God Contest pulled her into this world was no more. In her place, Milly ¨C The Witch of the Castle of Glass ¨C had emerged. Powerful. Loyal. Loved. Milly stared up at the mountain, and saw the twinkle of a ruined, metal building high up the slopes. Her eyes flashed with violet fire. ¡°This contest ¨C these gods ¨C are about to find out exactly what the Witch of the Castle of Glass is capable of. Cally, I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± She stepped into the jungle and towards the mountain. Into the unknown. * * * Three thousand miles away, on the map of the world that comprised the Castle of Glass¡¯ floor, and buried deep beneath the rubble, a miniscule pixel of the fog of war was revealed as Milly marched towards the mountain. It was a land of ruin. Of mystery. Of dangerous foes and powerful rewards. Seeped in knowledge its creator wanted to stay hidden from prying eyes of both players and gods alike. Chapter 95 - Oracle Fallen (Volume 3 Begins) Oracle plummeted through the ether of the Nexus ¨C the source of intelligent life in the universe. It was an endless, cascading spectrum that her now-mortal eyes could only perceive the smallest fraction of. She fell towards the God Contest, its tiny cubic form rapidly expanding as the Nexus injected it with the essence of life. When she and Thoth, the God of Knowledge, had launched the Thirteenth God Contest of homosapien into the Nexus, it had been able to fit in the palm of her hand ¨C an infinitely fragile unity of Hephaestus¡¯ creative genius and her sacrilegious effort to create artificial life as its guiding heart. Now, it was the size of an entire world. God Contest arriving at Destination. On target. Assimilating participants. The game begins in three¡­two¡­one. Oracle broke through the surface of their creation given life just as the mechanical announcement resounded across the ether. She felt as if she¡¯d been struck by lightning and then plunged into the deepest ocean depths. She had once been the immortal Goddess of Foresight and Prophecy, but her High Lord has stripped that responsibility away from her. She was mortal now, and floating in the lifeblood of the Nexus ¨C the creator ¨C was no place for a mortal woman to be. One-by-one, Oracle¡¯s memories began to be syphoned from her mind. The memories crystallized into physical form ¨C small, blue teardrops of purest light ¨C and fell down to the newly created world far below. Her spectacles and gown were torn from her body and joined her memories on the surface. She screamed as fear and pain overwhelmed her ¨C her first true scream in a very, very long time. Losing all sense of time, she couldn¡¯t tell if she had fallen for an hour or an eon. A strange voice jarred her back to reality. The voice did not travel through the ether. It came unbidden directly into Oracle¡¯s mind. ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to die. Please.¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice. She was young and very afraid ¨C a lonely girl abandoned by the world. Oracle caught a glimpse of the speaker in her mind. She was plain but pretty, though Oracle could sense the woman believed herself to be unattractive. Long, black hair spilled to the small of her back, tangled and frayed. She carried weight in her legs and stomach despite her impoverishment. Twin scars across her wrist told of a hard life lived, and the ragged black hoodie of one who wished to remain unseen, lest she be judged by others. Her hazel eyes spoke of a woman who had all but given up on life. The unexpected connection was a lifeline to Oracle. She bottled away her pain and fear and mentally reached out to the woman. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± Oracle asked, praying that the Nexus was a kind creator that would connect them across worlds. She waited, her heart pounding with anxiousness. ¡°I am here,¡± came a faint response. Oracle¡¯s heart leapt in her chest. ¡°Where is here?¡± Oracle replied. ¡°The Acicentre call centre. I¡¯m Milly. Can I help you?¡± Oracle didn¡¯t know what a call centre was, but the depressed girl in her mind had a name. Milly. Oracle grasped onto the name as one would grasp debris to stay afloat in a churning ocean. She tied a mental rope between them so they wouldn¡¯t drift apart. ¡°Is that on Earth?¡± Oracle asked. There was long pause, and Oracle felt the mental rope slip as she waited anxiously for a response. She knew where the God Contest was supposed to be. It was intended to absorb a massive Japanese city of millions, with the belief that such numbers would be necessary to achieve victory with this Contest¡¯s video game design. Instead, Cizen, her fellow god, had altered its target so it would absorb a dilapidated tower in the middle of nowhere America, occupied by less than a thousand people. It may have doomed them all before the God Contest could even commence. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but this is not funny,¡± came Milly¡¯s reply ¨C the tart response of a scared woman at her wit¡¯s end. Oracle couldn¡¯t lose this lifeline. This woman must be one of the newly absorbed participants from the dilapidated tower. A woman who was, in all likelihood, about to die horribly in the game Oracle had helped create. ¡°My name is Oracle. Find me. Find my memories. They will help you survive.¡± There was no response, and Oracle felt the rope stretched thin. She sent one final message. ¡°Please forgive me.¡± The mental rope snapped, and Oracle once again was lost in the current of the Nexus and lost all sense of time. Despair and hopelessness had nearly claimed her when she heard the woman¡¯s voice again, this time filled with curiosity instead of fear. ¡°Now, if only it wasn¡¯t white¡­¡± Oracle reached out and tied her mental rope tightly to the woman ¨C so tightly that their minds seemed pressed together as one. The woman ¨C Milly Persephone Brown ¨C stood in a cubicle and wore Oracle¡¯s Gown of Moon and Stars. Oracle watched as the gown altered itself to its new master¡¯s aesthetic preferences, transforming from purest white to deepest black. A gown that reflected the night sky itself. ¡°She found my gown? And it accepted her?¡± Oracle said, astonished. It would explain the sudden reappearance of their mental connection. Had their earlier connection created a beacon for her gown to find the woman? It was not only the gown. As Milly put on Oracle¡¯s Spectacles of Hidden Design, the bond between the woman and the fallen goddess was strengthened. Oracle set aside her questions and mentally threw out a second mental rope, and then a third, and felt herself bound tightly to the woman. Oracle was like a swimmer caught in a strong current, subject to the path of the player. ¡°Milly? Can you hear me? Milly?¡± Oracle shouted in her mind, but there was no response. It was a one-way connection. All that came through were flashes of critical events as Milly fought her way through the God Contest. Oracle slowly pieced together the woman¡¯s progress from the visions. She saw the four dilapidated towers ¨C the Castle of Glass ¨C through Milly¡¯s eyes. The sight of run-down, ill-kept complex made her heart sink. There were only eight hundred and seven people in the Castle of Glass when it was absorbed into the God Contest, and the managers and employees in the complex were anything but elite. The three businesses ¨C a health insurance provider being investigated for fraud, an energy drink company being sued for causing heart palpitations, a third-rate, ambulance-chasing law firm ¨C were run by self-centered, scheming CEOs. The only competent organization was a branch of the Department of Agriculture that occupied the lowest three floors. Oracle watched as player after player perished in those first few days. In their fear, the players turned to their former CEOs for protection and guidance. They gave them power, and the CEOs took it. Yet not all players were desperate for the protection of their former bosses. Employees from the three companies broke off and formed the Freelancers ¨C a group united by survival and mutual cooperation, free of the hierarchy that had bound them in their previous lives. It was to this group that Milly gravitated, and the allegiance cost her dearly. Milly was singled out by the CEOs. They demonized her and made her into someone her coworkers would fear so that the CEOs could use that fear to bind them together. It was a strategy as old as human history itself, and it worked. The strange, socially awkward girl in the black pentagram hoodie was already outsider, even amongst her coworkers, and the walls of isolation closed in around her. Even Milly¡¯s only friend ¨C the video-game obsessed, self-centered Xavier Holloway ¨C all but abandoned her after that first day, believing her to be a burden on his own path to strength and power. Yet against all odds, Milly fought back and thrived in her new world. She found friends in two other women ¨C Rain, the entrepreneur behind the Rain on My Parade coffeehouse, and Calista, the office bully. The three would form an unbreakable bond that would become the strongest relationships Milly had ever had in her life. Together, they turned the CEO¡¯s demonization of Milly into a weapon of their own. Milly adopted the persona of The Witch of the Castle of Glass ¨C the strongest magic user in these early days of the contest. Oracle felt the ether syphon away more of her memories. She watched them crystalize into physical form and fall to the world below. Her life in God Home ¨C her entire sense of self ¨C was being carved away bit-by-bit. ¡°I had a best friend. The High Lord threw us both into the Nexus. Why¡­ why can¡¯t I picture his face?¡± Oracle wondered. ¡°Why can¡¯t I remember his name?¡± Each time she lost a memory, fragments of Milly¡¯s life flooded in to fill the void. The players began to fend for themselves as they hunted and explored their immediate surroundings. They began to establish themselves in this new world, though their fear kept most of them close to the Castle of Glass.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Yet there were a few who dared to venture further into the world, and they were rewarded for their bravery. Rain ¡®The Alchemist¡¯ Desjarlais, Calista ¡®The Huntress¡¯ Gale, and Milly ¡®The Witch of the Castle of Glass¡¯ Brown became well-known names amongst the survivors as they grew more powerful with each day that passed. But their bravery had consequences. ¡°You are going too fast,¡± pleaded Oracle desperately, her words falling on deaf ears. ¡°The first phase of the God Contest should last months. Your people need stable food, defenses, and social order before you should spread your wings and fly. Pushing too fast is to invite death upon yourselves.¡± Oracle watched helplessly as Milly, Rain, Calista, and Xavier conquered the first Arena and earned powerful boons for their efforts. The experience was also the death knell in Milly¡¯s friendship with Xavier. Xavier had changed in the Arena, and Oracle could sense a dark influence had taken hold in the man. He didn¡¯t return to the Castle of Glass with the others. He went into the wilds, intent on growing stronger. The completion of the Arena triggered the second phase of the God Contest. The Event Timer ¨C Hephaestus¡¯ mechanism to keep species moving forward ¨C activated, and a wave of monsters struck the towers as the trio returned home. The opportunist CEOs Jacob Stone and Judy Brass used it as an opportunity to try to eliminate the rebel employees. They sealed off access to the Castle of Glass and left the Freelancers undefended on the beach to fight off the advancing horde. Many Freelancers died that day, but in the wake of the battle the legend of the Alchemist, the Huntress, and the Witch grew, and the Freelancers established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. In the wake of the CEO¡¯s aggression, the government employees abandoned their CEO allies and created their own faction ¨C the Farmers ¨C who allied themselves with the Freelancers. A deep tension settled over the four towers. A cold war had begun as each faction build their power. Oracle had witnessed similar dynamics arise in previous Contests. It was common for fractures to arise between players. ¡°But those Contests started with thousands upon thousands of players. These fractures shouldn¡¯t happen with only eight hundred and seven people,¡± Oracle said as her frustration drove her further into hopelessness. ¡°What is wrong with these humans?¡± Oracle was about to give up when, unexpectedly, she was bombarded by strong feelings of love from the woman she was tethered to. The feeling spread like wildfire through Oracle¡¯s mind ¨C candlelight in the darkness. In the midst of her struggles, Milly had found more than friendship. For the first time in her life, Milly had family. Family that she would fight to the ends of the world to protect. In Rain, Milly had found a best friend who became like an older sister to her ¨C wise counsel to help guide Milly through the complexities of life. Counsel that Milly had never had before. With Calista, their relationship grew into something even stronger. Milly and Calista fell in love, and with each day that passed, that love grew. It was in the aftermath of the horrors they had witnessed that Milly and Calista took down their barriers and confessed their feelings to one another. It felt like a new beginning. Milly was no longer a lonely girl living day-to-day. She had people to love. She had something to lose. In the God Contest, there was no one more powerful than one who had something to lose. Those were not the only new relationship Milly had forged. In the depths of the first Arena, Milly had used Oracle¡¯s spectacles to access a back door into the system itself. In doing so, she became the first player in the long history of God Contests to peer behind the veil. Oracle panicked at her discovery. Milly¡¯s breach was the greatest threat to the integrity of the Nexus¡¯ test of humanity. Yet against all odds, the Nexus accepted the turn of events and chose not to abort the Contest. Perhaps it knew this was their last chance. Perhaps it was the madness that had infected the creator. Or perhaps it was because of the four-year-old child with white hair and unicorn pajamas that Milly found through that back door. The AI Director. Oracle began to weep as she caught her first glimpse of the child. She spent the past forty years designing the artificial lifeform to serve as the heart of the God Contest, so that the Contest could adapt to the human¡¯s unpredictable behavior. The AI Director was the closest thing to a child Oracle had ever had. Yet after Hephaestus¡¯ death, she¡¯d found herself without love left to give to it. She¡¯d implanted the AI Director in the centre of the God Contest ¨C trapped in its tiny control room ¨C and abandoned it without seeing its ¨C her ¨C face. Without giving her a name. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my child,¡± Oracle whispered with immense guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be the mother you deserve. I¡¯m sorry for the burden I¡¯ve placed upon you.¡± Milly named the child Luna, and Milly saw within her the same loneliness and abandonment that she¡¯d experienced throughout her life. Although Luna was responsible for guiding the God Contest, she was as much a victim of circumstances as the players were. Before she left Luna¡¯s control room, Milly promised to keep secret the knowledge of Luna and to return to visit the little girl so she didn¡¯t need to be alone. The ether flared, and Oracle felt her memories of Luna syphoned from her mind. ¡°Please, not those memories,¡± begged Oracle as she watched the silver threads exit her mind and crystallize before her eyes. ¡°My child. I don¡¯t want to forget my child!¡± Oracle reached for the crystal, but it slipped through her fingers. The crystal plummeted down to the world below, and her memories of Luna were lost. Oracle blinked and watched the crystal fall. It had been important, but she could no longer remember why. Visions from Milly¡¯s life in the game flooded into Oracle¡¯s mind to fill the void. After the battle with the monsters, Milly, Calista, and Rain ventured into the wilds, headed for the nearest God Arena. They needed to win another Arena before the Event Timer reached zero or they would face another disaster. It was in the wilds that Milly, Rain, and Calista rescued the Lost Foals, a tribe of Fairies that were heading for the annual gathering of their people. Milly was gravely injured in the battle. It was several days before Milly awoke, and when she did, she was a more powerful woman. At first, Milly thought the Fairies just another construct of the God Contest ¨C a generic creation to challenge the players. Despite this, the three women quickly grew attached to several of the Lost Foals ¨C Elder Twotongue, the healer Whitewing, and the children Tentongue and Flutterwing. ¡°Perhaps they sense the Fairies¡¯ true nature,¡± Oracle said as she watched the events unfold. ¡°The Fairies are not constructs of the game. They are as real as the players. Every God Contest involves two species whose fates are intertwined ¨C the species being assessed, and a new species given life by the Nexus. Humans and Fairies. If a God Contest fails, the new species is wiped out and the Nexus designs a new one. If it is successful, the new species becomes the subject of the next Cycle, until it is their own time to be assessed. A complete cycle ¨C from creation to assessment ¨C guided at the start and the guiders at the end.¡± Oracle watched as Milly, Calista, and Rain escorted the Lost Foals to the gathering of their people, all the while growing closer to their new friends and to each other. At the gathering, they were reunited with Xavier Holloway, who arrived alongside a reluctant orphaned Fairy child named Passiflora. Xavier¡¯s abandoned the girl, but it was the beginning of Milly¡¯s connection to the child that would become her daughter. The stage was set, and Oracle braced herself for the visions that were to come. The gathering of the Fairies was also the Arena that Milly had been searching for, and it was a devastating one. ¡°It is a well-established test in every God Contest,¡± Oracle recited mechanically as Milly¡¯s fear and anger began to relentlessly bombard Oracle¡¯s mind. As Oracle soared through the ether, mentally tethered to Milly, she began to lose her sense of self. With every second that passed, she felt more like an extension of Milly than she did herself. ¡°The new species is¡­ pushed to the brink of extinction¡­ to bind the two species together. A test of compassion for humanity. A test of survival for the Fairies. It is cruel¡­ but effective. I¡­¡± A tortured scream reverberated across the Nexus, jarring her from the visions. She glanced behind her and saw a tendril of utter darkness snake its way through the ether and down towards the God Contest. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be,¡± whispered Oracle. ¡°The madness. It infects the God Contest? How can this be?¡± Oracle¡¯s own panic blended with Milly¡¯s as the madness corrupted the Arena. Darkness fell across the gathering, the win conditions were lost from the program, and all that was left was a massacre. She watched as the Fairies were decimated and Rain and Xavier were gravely wounded. Milly and Calista struggled valiantly to save as many as they could, and just when all hope was lost, the madness was pushed back and the error corrected. Milly and Calista won the battle, but only a few hundred Fairies had survived. ¡°This new species the Nexus has created is so fragile, and so few remain. Will there be enough to survive what is to come?¡± Oracle questioned as Milly and Calista convinced the surviving Fairies to join them at the Castle of Glass. It had been a week since Milly, Calista, and Rain had left the Castle of Glass, and in that time, tensions between the factions had reached a breaking point. The CEOs had also conquered an Arena, solidifying themselves as heroes in the eyes of their employees. The power boost from their success had given them the upper hand in the cold war. They demanded the capitulation of the Freelancers and Farmers, and it was only the return of the Witch of the Castle of Glass that staved off their advances. The flashes of Milly¡¯s life accelerated, and Oracle found she could no longer distinguish her own memories and emotions from those of the woman to which she was tethered. Her outrage at the CEOs¡¯ arrogance threatened to overwhelm her, even as the CEOs relented and agreed to allow the Fairies to reside near the Castle of Glass at a hefty price. She ¨C the Goddess of Foresight and Prophecy ¨C felt indecisiveness for the first time in ages as she and Milly were torn between Calista¡¯s direct approach to dealing with the CEOs and Rain¡¯s preference for subtlety and kindness. She became lost in Milly¡¯s anger when the CEO¡¯s henchmen attacked the orphan Passiflora. It was a trap for the Witch, and for her bravery, Milly was to be the first example set through the CEO¡¯s new system of justice at the Castle of Glass ¨C the Enemy of the Tower finally pacified. She felt Milly¡¯s profound joy when she agreed to adopt Passiflora and become her mother. Her family was, for the first time in her life, complete, and she vowed to protect them all from the dangers of this world, whether those dangers be from beyond the towers or from within. It was a vow that was soon to be tested, as the tortured scream of the Nexus returned. Oracle watched helplessly as multiple tendrils of madness descended into the God Contest and corrupted it once more. A rift appeared in the sky above the Castle of Glass ¨C above the masses gathered for the trial ¨C and what emerged caused Oracle¡¯s heart to plummet into her stomach. ¡°It¡­ can¡¯t be¡­,¡± Oracle whispered, as darkness eclipsed the light of the world. The Dragon of Endless Shadows was the great herald of the cataclysm phase of the God Contest. It existed in every version of the Contest ¨C a creation of the Nexus itself. At level 250, it should not have appeared for years. Oracle watched in horror as the assembled players were slaughtered. Within minutes, the dragon wiped out half of the remaining players, leaving fewer than three hundred remaining in the God Contest. It would have ended them all, if not for The Witch of the Castle of Glass. She leapt atop the dragon¡¯s crown and drove it away, but Milly was carried along with it as it fled into the sky. Oracle could feel Milly¡¯s fear as the warmth and breath were stolen from her body. Milly¡¯s thoughts became her own. Goodbye, my love. I¡­ I wish I¡¯d had more time with you. But you filled these past few weeks with more happiness than I had experienced in my whole life. Thank you, Cally. And¡­ good¡­ bye. Only the smallest fragments of the goddess¡¯ mind remained when the system error was finally fixed. As the now-mindless dragon began to descend back down to the Castle of Glass, Milly and Oracle were two bodies sharing a single mind. Oracle felt the love for her family flow through her, and her heart leapt with joy as she saw her girlfriend below. She wanted nothing more than to leap off the dragon and embrace her family in her arms. The world shifted. Beneath her, a rift in the fabric of the world appeared. It pulled the dragon into its depths, and Oracle watched helplessly as they were pulled inside along with it. ¡°No! No, Cally!¡± screamed Oracle, though the words were not hers to shout. As the rift slammed shut, Oracle felt the mental tethers to Milly Brown sever in an instant. The thoughts and emotions of the player disappeared, and in their absence, Oracle was left a hollow shell of a woman, spiraling through the ether. Who does one become when everything has been stripped away? Oracle¡¯s heart broke. Everything went black, and her mortal body and fractured mind plummeted towards the sea far below. Into the God Contest. Chapter 96 - Oracle Shattered Oracle opened her eyes. The bright sun beamed in through the circular window, warming her eyelids and driving away the fogginess of sleep. Sitting upright with an exaggerated stretch and yawn, she gazed around the bedroom, reluctant to leave the comfort of the silk sheets and feathered pillows. She was alone ¨C her companion having risen before the sun crested over the horizon. Oracle sighed, disappointed, and swung herself off the bed. The white marble floors were cool on her feet ¨C a temporary discomfort that would quickly become a boon as the humid, tropical air of their home was warmed by the sun. She strolled slowly over to the window, its shutters opened wide to catch the morning breeze and stared out at the crystal waters of the ocean. ¡°Another day in paradise,¡± Oracle said gratefully as she breathed in the comforting ocean air from her second-story window. She leaned her arms against the windowsill and stared out at the waters until the shatter of dropped glass drew her attention. ¡°Umm¡­ oops,¡± Hephaestus said apologetically. The massive man, eight feet tall and all muscle, carried a dainty tray in his hands that was filled with fruit, fresh bread, jams, and, until a moment ago, a cup of umber to shake away the morning grogginess. ¡°Sorry, just let me¡­¡± Hephaestus gingerly stepped over the shards of glass and set the tray on Oracle¡¯s nightstand, only to knock her Tricklebeast-hair brush to the floor. He sighed. Oracle chuckled at her lover. ¡°Hephy, you¡¯re such a klutz. I don¡¯t know how you were ever selected for this place, or how Administrator Jun-yu puts up with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good with my hands,¡± Hephaestus answered. ¡°As you well know after last night.¡± Oracle blushed as memories of their estrous-driven escapades came back to her. Hephaestus was a gentle giant, but Oracle had quickly learned of the passionate fire that raged in those callous hands. It had been on full display last night as they¡¯d made love beneath the stars. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that,¡± Oracle replied, as she knelt to retrieve her brush. Last night had been the best night of her short life. ¡°Besides, The Administrator doesn¡¯t have time to pay attention to someone as lowly as me,¡± Hephaestus shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just the guy that fixes things around here.¡± ¡°You think too little of yourself, Hephy,¡± Oracle said with genuine affection towards her new lover. ¡°I know us researchers tend to receive the majority of the Administrator¡¯s attention and praise, but you¡¯re just as important to our success as any of the ten thousand residents of Core Station. Our efforts can¡¯t bear fruit if our equipment breaks and our walls crumble.¡± ¡°That may be so,¡± Hephaestus replied. ¡°But there are a million Orianes who would gladly take my place if offered. After all, the Archipelago Research Alliance is one-of-a-kind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re one of a kind,¡± Oracle breathed as her lover knelt beside her and leaned in. She shouldn¡¯t feel this connected to the man. They¡¯d only met a few days ago. She¡¯d only needed someone to help relieve the heat within her. She¡¯d intended to cast him away and returned to her work as she had with the others, but there was something special about him that made her want to keep him around. As their fingers grew close, Oracle felt a spark at her fingertip.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The smallest fragments of remaining memory returned to her, and suddenly she saw the man through very old eyes. She scrambled backward until she was pressed tightly against the white plaster walls, her face filled with confusion and fear. ¡°No, you can¡¯t be here. You¡¯re dead,¡± she stammered. ¡°The madness stole you from me.¡± ¡°Madness?¡± Hephaestus asked, concerned for his lover. ¡°Oracle, what are you talking about? Are you feeling well?¡± Oracle¡¯s eyes darted around the familiar room. It was just how she remembered it, yet it couldn¡¯t be real. She¡¯d lost this life hundreds of cycles ago. ¡°Oracle, please, talk to me,¡± Hephaestus pleaded. His lover looked like a panicked animal trapped in a corner. He reached for her shoulder, and she recoiled away from his touch. Only the smallest fragments of the goddess¡¯ memories remained, and the memories from Milly already felt like a forgotten dream. Yet in the absence of memories of the goddess and the player, Oracle¡¯s oldest memories began to surface. Memories of a time before Oracle the Goddess of Foresight and Prophesy. When she had been Oracle, researcher first grade of the Archipelago Research Alliance. ¡°I had forgotten this life,¡± Oracle muttered as stared across the room. ¡°How many cycles ago was this? How many species did I help guide between then and now?¡± ¡°Cycles? Is this a side effect of one of your division¡¯s experiments?¡± Hephaestus questioned, though he knew he shouldn¡¯t inquire too deeply if that was the case. ¡°Oracle, the compound¡­ it has been known to cause hallucinations. Let me take you to the medical wing.¡± Oracle didn¡¯t hear Hephaestus¡¯ pleas. She huddled in the corner, mumbling to herself as she tried to remember something important from memories lost. It came out an incoherent rambling. ¡°They kept failing. Twelve times they failed, and the madness spread.¡± ¡°Oracle¡­,¡± said Hephaestus as his concern for his lover grew. ¡°We had no choice. Our friends ¨C our fellow gods ¨C were dying. Our High Lord had been infected. Even the Nexus itself was not immune to the spread of the madness.¡± ¡°Gods? High Lord? Nexus? Oracle, you aren¡¯t making any sense. You must be sick. I¡¯m getting the medics.¡± ¡°I am not sick!¡± Oracle shouted, jumping to her feet. ¡°But you were. You ¨C my husband for countless cycles. The other half of my immortal soul. The architect of the God Contest. We had so little time that I couldn¡¯t even stop to grieve your loss.¡± ¡°We¡­ we¡¯ve just met, Oracle,¡± Hephaestus stammered. ¡°I feel strongly about you, even as the time of mating ends, but I am not your husband.¡± Oracle began to pace back and forth, muttering to herself. ¡°The Thirteenth. Artificial intelligence. Humans. Milly. Why can¡¯t I remember?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m going to get help, Oracle,¡± Hephaestus said cautiously as he ran from the room, shouting for a medic. Oracle didn¡¯t notice. Her hands began to shake as she struggled to keep hold of what few memories remained of her time as a goddess. It felt as if she were trying to catch the wind itself. Each time she thought she¡¯d caught a memory, it slipped through her fingers. A salty breeze blew in through the window. Oracle breathed in its scent. It was familiar and comforting and brought back memories of a childhood spent playing on the shores of the archipelago. It was a single, distracting thought, but it was enough. Her efforts to cling to the memories of the goddess were abandoned, and the remaining pieces scattered like sand on a beach. When Hephaestus returned with the medics, Oracle was seated in front of her mirror, carefully brushing her long hair as she hummed a tune that her mother had sung to her as a child. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Hephy,¡± Oracle said, her eyes fixed on her lover. Her thoughts were filled with memories of last night¡¯s passion and excitement for the experiments scheduled for the day. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. It was probably just a side effect of the compound, as you said. Fragments of a dream, briefly mistaken for reality.¡± ¡°No gods?¡± Hephaestus asked cautiously. ¡°No¡­ um¡­ God Contest?¡± ¡°No gods. No God Contest,¡± Oracle assured him, and Hephaestus waved away the medics with an apologetic look. ¡°Just you, and me, and my research.¡± ¡°Maybe you can take a day off from the research though, and focus on the first two,¡± Hephaestus suggested with a sigh of relief. Oracle looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her youthful skin and golden hair spoke of an Orian of incredible beauty, yet there was pain and longing beneath her bright orange eyes that had not been there yesterday. ¡°I¡¯d like that, Hephy,¡± Oracle smiled. ¡°I¡¯d like that a lot.¡± After all, there were no such things as goddesses or God Contests. It had only been a dream, and there was no sense dwelling on dreams. Chapter 97 – The Relentless Hound In her first year with the pack, Dreadwind had slain three rival wolves when they had raided a Callous Claws outpost. She¡¯d brought home a dozen fairy slaves after raids on their pitiful tribes. The clan chief himself had praised her for her prowess in the defense of the Silver Lakes stronghold at the Lake of Fury. Dreadwind was young, but she was brave. A wolf of exceptional promise in the never-ending war of the wolf clans. Her bravery abandoned her as the Spear of Pinga pierced through the back of her leg and shattered her kneecap. With a yelp of agony, she collapsed amidst her slaughtered pack. The six wolves had been wiped out in less than a minute. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t come any closer,¡± the seven-foot-tall beast howled, her false bravado her last effort to keep the enemy at bay. ¡°Do you know who I am? My clan won¡¯t tolerate this insult. They¡¯ll¡­ hunt you down and¡­¡± Twin vines sprouted from the earth and wrapped themselves around Dreadwind¡¯s wrists, hauling her face-first to the dry, cracked soil. Two more wrapped around her ankles, and a fifth around her waist, until she was tightly bound in place. She squirmed, but the vines held fast against her strength. Slow, methodical footsteps crunched through the dried grass, until she glimpsed the leather straps and white wings of the Talaria of Mercury. Dreadwind knew those sandals. They were worn by the woman from the stories now spreading like wildfire throughout the wolf clans. The relentless hound. The inescapable spear. The Huntress of the Wilds. Calista Gale knelt before her prey, and the last of Dreadwind¡¯s willpower shattered like ice thrown off a mountain onto the rocks below as she stared at the woman¡¯s crimson hair and pitiless eyes. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Calista asked, her voice slow and icy cold. ¡°Y¡­ yes, I do,¡± Dreadwind stuttered. ¡°I have heard the stories.¡± ¡°Then you know what I seek,¡± the Huntress said, and though it was not a question, it demanded an answer. ¡°They say you lost your heart, and you roam the wilds in search of it,¡± Dreadwind recited. ¡°Please, my pack was just patrolling. We¡­¡± ¡°I know what your pack does to those it finds on your patrols,¡± Calista interrupted sharply. ¡°Tell me of my witch ¨C my heart ¨C and I might let you live.¡± ¡°Your witch? I know nothing of your witch. My clan¡­ we¡¯ve seen no such being,¡± Dreadwind pleaded. ¡°I tell you the truth! Please, you must believe me.¡± A scowl crested across the Huntress¡¯ face, and she beckoned to a companion behind the wolf, though Dreadwind could not turn her head to see. ¡°If you let me go, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll take your story back to my clan,¡± Dreadwind bargained. ¡°We¡¯ll search the wilds for your heart, and if we find her, we¡¯ll keep her safe and send word to you.¡± It was the same deal that One-Ear, a pup from the neighboring village, had made with the Huntress when his pack had been wiped out. It was One-Ear who brought the story of the Huntress and her search to Dreadwind¡¯s village. ¡°Your clan already knows my story,¡± the Huntress answered. ¡°So what you offer me has no value. If you know nothing about my witch, there is only one thing you can give me.¡± ¡°Anything! Anything!¡± Dreadwind assured her as she struggled desperately against the vines. A sharp pain shot through Dreadwind¡¯s chest as a sword pierced her back and tore through her heart. She shuttered and died, her blood seeping into the dry soil beneath her. Another victim of the Huntress¡¯ search. * * * ¡°Nice! I leveled up from that!¡± Minerva said excitedly as she removed her blade from the wolf¡¯s back and wiped it clean on its fur. The slim, thirty-four-year-old woman with short-cut blond hair and bright blue eyes stowed her blade in its enchanted sheath and set to work selecting her attributes and talent. ¡°Hey, Calista, what¡¯s a class? I hit level twenty, and it says I have to select one.¡± Calista ignored the woman as she stomped away from wolf¡¯s corpse. ¡°Another dead end,¡± Calista spat with frustration. ¡°It¡¯s been a week, and I¡¯ve got nothing to show for it. Absolutely nothing.¡± ¡°Calista, this world is massive. Milly could be anywhere,¡± Lucy replied as her vines unwrapped themselves from the wolf¡¯s limbs. Circled around her arms and across her back, the vines sunk beneath Lucy¡¯s skin until they resembled tattoos across a third of her skin. ¡°You don¡¯t even know if she is still...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, Lucy,¡± Calista replied sharply as she cut her off. ¡°Let¡¯s find another pack. We¡¯ve still got a couple hours before dark.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve wiped out three wolf packs this afternoon, Calista,¡± Lucy reminded her. ¡°They¡¯ve all said the same thing. You need to let the story spread through their clans before you¡¯ll hear anything else.¡± ¡°We can head deeper into their territory, and¡­¡± ¡°And what, Calista?¡± Lucy asked, her button nose crinkled with irritation at the Huntress. She folded her arms across her sleeveless white shirt and her long blond ponytail swayed in the stiff breeze. ¡°The wilds get more dangerous as we get further from the Castle of Glass. Maybe Minerva would follow you on a suicide mission ¨C she seems to have some misguided sense of loyalty towards you and Milly ¨C but I¡¯m only here because Alison asked me to keep an eye on you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need a babysitter, Lucy,¡± Calista said angrily. ¡°I need to find my girlfriend. You know, the woman who saved your fucking life? Who saved everyone¡¯s fucking lives? Maybe we¡¯d find her if you tried harder.¡± Lucy¡¯s eyes narrowed at the accusation. ¡°Minerva and I are heading back to the Castle of Glass now. She¡¯s tired. I¡¯m tired. And you need to calm the fuck down,¡± she said, her words slow and definite. ¡°Come on, Minerva. We¡¯re heading home.¡± ¡°But I still need to pick my class,¡± Minerva said, oblivious to their argument. She was overwhelmed by the multiple player screens that surrounded her. ¡°What¡¯s a ¡®Sam-your-eye¡¯?¡± Lucy peeked over Minerva¡¯s shoulder. ¡°A Samurai. It¡¯s a Japanese warrior.¡± Minerva stared at her blankly. ¡°Like in the Tom Cruise movie?¡± Minerva shook her head, and Lucy¡¯s chuckle broke through her anger at Calista. ¡°Minerva, you¡¯re as sharp as the sword you carry, but you¡¯re missing some critical experiences in your life. Sexy Tom Cruise-related experiences. When we get back, we¡¯re popping over to Rain on My Parade to grab some Dark Introspection, then heading over to Amir and Kenji¡¯s place for a movie night. Those guys had a thousand movies on their work computers, and there¡¯s no way they don¡¯t have The Last Samurai.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Thank these gods we still have electricity,¡± Minerva said as she closed her player screens. ¡°Calista, you joining us?¡± ¡°You go ahead,¡± Calista said, masking her inner turmoil beneath a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it. I want to stay out here for a while longer.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stay too long,¡± Lucy said as she ushered Minerva in the direction of the Waypoint Pillar. It wasn¡¯t a request. ¡°You¡¯ll make Rain and Passi worry. And don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± Calista waited until they were out of sight and collapsed against a fallen log. She buried her head in her hands. Stifled fell as she let frustration and sorrow overwhelm her. Her sobs were carried away on the prairie breeze, though no creature dared to approach the grieving Huntress. ¡°This stupid sub-class was supposed to help,¡± Calista shouted, her grief turned to anger in a heartbeat. She leapt to her feet and kicked the fallen log. It shattered under the force of her blow, shards of wood scattering into the grass. ¡°So why hasn¡¯t it given me anything?¡± Opening her player screen, she read her sub-class description for the hundredth time.
Subclass: The Relentless Hound The Relentless Hound pursues her prey to the ends of the earth. Wielding an array of personal skills and a carefully crafted reputation, the Relentless Hound does not rest until she has found her target, even if she must pursue that target to the edge of the world. Once she has its scent, there is no escape. Unyielding Pursuit ¨C The Relentless Hound is a tracking specialist. She may mark a single target using an object belonging to the target as a focal point. If she does, she will instinctively know the target¡¯s exact location if she is within a hundred miles of target. If she is not, she will know the general cardinal direction of the target. Eagle¡¯s Sight ¨C The Relentless Hound¡¯s eyesight is improved five-fold, allowing the player to see great distances. Further, the player can create a temporary spiritual eagle familiar to serve as a scout and battle companion. The player may expend magic to see through the eyes of her spiritual companion. Apex Predator ¨C The Relentless Hound is one of the most dangerous predators in the wilds. Her power is second only to her tenacity as she pursuits her target. Her strength increases by ten. There is No Escape ¨C The Relentless Hound will not rest until her target is found. She refuses to give in to mundane limitations such as sleep and pain. Her toughness increases by ten. A Thousand Eyes ¨C The Relentless Hound does not rely solely on her own attributes and skills. She may convince ¨C through any means necessary ¨C intelligent creatures of the world to divulge information about her target or to spread word of the Relentless Hound¡¯s pursuit to their people, magnifying the likelihood of receiving information about her target.
Calista had received The Relentless Hound sub-class two days ago when she¡¯d reached level thirty. She¡¯d marked Milly using her hairbrush she¡¯d fished out of the rubble of Freelancer Tower, but she¡¯d felt emotionally crushed when she activated Unyielding Pursuit. It hadn¡¯t worked. Calista could not sense the direction of her lover. She could not sense anything at all. ¡°Milly, where are you?¡± Calista called across the empty prairie as she let her emotions spill out. ¡°I need you. Passi needs you. Please, my love, come back to me.¡± Calista fell to her knees, as sorrow once more eclipsed anger, and she let her tears fall to the earth until she heard Rain¡¯s voice in her head. ¡°Calista, Lucy told me you¡¯re still out there. Come home,¡± Rain said with a soft understanding. ¡°Fucking Lucy needs to mind her own business,¡± muttered Calista. ¡°Lucy¡¯s been helping you look for Milly for three days straight, ever since you could walk again,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°So has Minerva. It¡¯s not their fault that Milly is gone, Calista. Don¡¯t treat them like it is.¡± ¡°Well, maybe if you¡¯d get off your ass and help, we¡¯d have found her by now,¡± Calista accused, lost in a sea of self-hate with her emotions balanced on the razor¡¯s edge of white-hot rage and a deep, crushing sorrow. She¡¯d felt this way once before in her life ¨C during high school when her father was dying. The anger ¨C and the bullying that spawned from it ¨C had been her haven from grief. It had got her through the pain. Rain was silent for a long moment, as she waited for her friend¡¯s anger to fade. Unchallenged, Calista¡¯s anger faltered, and she felt mortified. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Rain. I didn¡¯t mean that,¡± Calista whimpered as her tears resumed. ¡°I just¡­ I just miss her so much, and I¡¯m failing her.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all helping in our own way,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°And we won¡¯t stop until we find her. But driving Lucy and Minerva away with your attitude isn¡¯t going to help.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Calista replied, deflated. ¡°You need to rest. Come home. Why don¡¯t you pick up Passi early from her healing lessons with Ying and spend some time with her this afternoon?¡± Calista buried her face against her knees. ¡°She hates me, Rain.¡± ¡°Passi doesn¡¯t hate you, Calista. She¡¯s grieving. She found a new mother to love and care for her, and a day later she had it ripped away from her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s been so angry with me this week,¡± Calista murmured. ¡°It¡¯s like I can¡¯t say anything or do anything right. I feel like I¡¯m walking a tightrope around her. She hears everything I say as an attack.¡± ¡°Gee, doesn¡¯t that sound familiar,¡± Rain replied with gentle sarcasm. Calista hugged her knees closer as shame settled beside sorrow. ¡°Spend time with her, Cally,¡± Rain urged. ¡°It¡¯s the only way to move past that, and Milly would want you to care for her daughter.¡± ¡°I¡­ okay, I¡¯ll come home,¡± Calista promised, getting to her feet. She wiped away the last of her tears. ¡°Good. Pop by the shop before you head over to the new clinic. I¡¯ve got your next batch ready.¡± ¡°Thanks Rain,¡± Calista said appreciatively. ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± Their connection ended, and Calista was once again alone on the open prairie. She pulled out a waypoint crystal from her inventory and held it aloft. ¡°Castle of Glass,¡± she said as she crushed the crystal in her hand. She was pulled into the kaleidoscope tunnel, and all that remained on the prairie were the bodies of the wolves left to rot in the grass. Summary of off-screen gains: Calista hit level 31. She received her sub-class and used her class talent points to advance existing talents from beginner to advanced. She gained one new talent - Spear Manipultation - which is a second tier skill that lets her duplicate her spear and control over its flight path when thrown. Rain has spent most of her time at Rain on My Parade, helping the surviving players recover. As they no longer have access to Milly''s healing, she used her level 25 general talent point to gain Regeneration (beginner).
Calista Gale Level: 31 Specialty: Reluctant Leader Class: Battlefield Commander Sub-class: The Relentless Hound Strength: Base: 60 Enhanced: 74 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: Base: 33 Enhanced: 49 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +10 from Talaria of Mercury) Toughness: Base: 61 Enhanced: 64 (+3 Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Magic: Base: 17 Enhanced: 21 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Shield ¨C Protective Shield (advanced, augmented by Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Defensive ¨C Defensive Instincts (advanced) Combat - Spear Specialist (advanced), Spear Manipulation (beginner) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner), Battlefield Stabilization (beginner) Mobilization ¨C Logistics (beginner), Enhanced scrounging (beginner) Battalion ¨C Battlefield Communication (advanced) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector Class Talents: Soldier¡¯s Morale, The Adaptable Strategist, Unstoppable Force, The Price of Command, Coward¡¯s Folly Sub-Class Talents: Unyielding Pursuit, Eagle¡¯s Sight, Apex Predator, There is No Escape, A Thousand Eyes Equipment Benefits: Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga) Improved Perception (advanced, Huntress'' Scrunchy) Companion of Artemis (Luna''s Pendant of the Journey) Double Speed (Talaria of Mercury) Temporary Flight (5 seconds, Talaria of Mercury)
Rain Desjarlais Level: 25 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 29 Enhanced: 33 (+4 from Rain¡¯s Ring of the Fallen Wolf) Agility: Base: 34 Enhanced: 40 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 25 Enhanced: 34 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +3 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: Base: 38 Enhanced: 46 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Alchemy - Alchemy (advanced), Combat - Dagger Specialist (advanced) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (advanced) Invention ¨C Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Talents: The World Smith¡¯s Blank Canvas, The Master of Invention, Driver of Evolution, The Innocuous Flaw, Only the Original Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Fancy Footwork (beginner, Rain¡¯s Work Boots)
Chapter 98 - Life Goes On The lobby of the Castle of Glass was filled with the rush of activity as players and fairies alike cleared out the remainder of the rubble from the dragon attack. The remains of Freelancer Tower had been sectioned off, and although unlivable, a team of players had already formed a committee to discuss how to rebuild it. In the centre of the lobby, where leather couches and bookshelves once sat, was a newly constructed, twenty-foot-long table littered with maps, a two-foot tall model of the Castle of Glass positioned at its heart. Harriet, the Freelancer who had lost her hand at the Battle of Tower Beach, had recreated her means of tracking the location and status of their friends after her first version had been destroyed in the collapse. Elder Lightpaw stood at Harriet¡¯s side, his little fox nose barely cresting the height of the table. He held a bag filled with small wooden carvings ¨C the latest batch of the six hundred and twenty-two carvings they would need. One for each surviving player and fairy. Digging into the bag, he passed a carving that resembled Whitewing up to Harriet. Harriet¡¯s artificial hand flashed as she enchanted the carving with her artificer magic and placed it on the map. Under its own power, it slid across the table and came to rest within the magnified map of the Inlet of New Beginnings, atop the stone structure constructed for the shared medical facility and lit up with a faint blue light. There were hundreds of carvings on the table, each moving in real time as their matched players and fairies moved within range of the map. Harriet had advanced her talent enough to extend its range out a hundred miles in all directions, and she¡¯d incorporated more colors to increase the information available. In addition to blue for healing, red for fighting, and black for grievous injury or death, they now had brown for building, green for farming, and white for rest. The medical facility was where Passi spent her days alongside Ying, Whitewing, and the other healers. The jointly shared facility was currently just a large stone room that the construction team had hastily erected to accommodate the survivors, but there were plans to expand and improve it. Calista arrived at Harriet and Lightpaw¡¯s side as Lightpaw pulled out a carving of Elder Tidebreaker and passed it up. ¡°The next batch of carvings?¡± Calista asked. She attempted to sound upbeat ¨Cher sadness hidden beneath a smile ¨C but it just came across as flat. ¡°The kids did a good job with this batch,¡± Harriet praised, as Tidebreaker¡¯s carving scooted over the beach beside Sapphire¡¯s. Calista felt sorry for the woman ¨C no doubt it wasn¡¯t a pleasant conversation. It never was with Tidebreaker. Lightpaw passed up another carving ¨C this one of Jacob Stone. It skidded across the map and deep into the mountain terrain, where it joined with the Carthage sisters and Frank Fredrickson, her former boss. All three flashed red. A genuine smile appeared briefly on Calista¡¯s face when she saw someone had carved a prominent scowl on Stone¡¯s figure. He wouldn¡¯t like that, but there was little the former CEO could do about it. Except for a few loyal followers like the Carthage sisters, Jacob Stone had seen his power evaporate after Milly saved the Castle of Glass. With the death of Judy Brass and the abdication of Cosmo Shufflebottom ¨C who, in the wake of the carnage, had finally given up his fa?ade of leadership to pursue his music full-time ¨C the CEO¡¯s stranglehold on the towers had crumbled overnight. ¡°We¡¯ve got half the carvings done now,¡± Lightpaw informed her. ¡°We¡¯ve got the kids carving the rest to keep their minds occupied. They should be finished within a few days. Then we¡¯ll need another way to keep them occupied. My people are used to wandering the wilds ¨C staying in one place has required some adaptation.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have that problem soon enough. Did you hear, Cally? Bridget is pregnant,¡± Harriet gossiped. ¡°Really? From before, or is this a recent development?¡± ¡°Recent. You know Ishaan from the Farmers?¡± ¡°No, never met him,¡± Calista admitted. ¡°Yah, Bridget barely knew him too,¡± Harriet giggled. ¡°Guess they¡¯ll get to know each other a lot more now. Though she¡¯s not the only one. Turns out there¡¯s a woman in tower one who¡¯s pregnant too. Pretty far along, in fact, and she¡¯s still level one. Poor thing hasn¡¯t left the tower since we got here.¡± The thought of raising a newborn in this nightmare made Calista shiver. Lightpaw withdrew Elmer¡¯s figure and passed it to Harriet. It scooted across the table, climbed the model of the Castle of Glass, and came to a stop beside Alison¡¯s figure in Tower Four. Harriet erupted in a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s the one disadvantage of this map. As long as your figure is on this table, everyone will know what you are doing and¡­ who you are doing. Oh, I bet I could make a pink color for sexy times¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Calista and Lightpaw shouted in unison. Calista glanced down curiously at the elder fox, who simply shrugged. ¡°What? I¡¯m old, not dead,¡± Lightpaw grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m not even that old¡±. Calista let a small but genuine laugh emerge ¨C her first since Milly disappeared ¨C though guilt quickly snuffed it out. She looked across the map for Passiflora¡¯s carving, expecting it to be in the medical clinic. It wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Harriet, where¡¯s Passi¡¯s carving?¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Harriet said curiously as she scanned the table. ¡°It was here a couple days ago. Passi was here on a supply run for Ying and was asking me endless questions about it. She¡¯s a curious girl. Such a sweetheart.¡± ¡°I¡­ she hasn¡¯t talked to me much since Milly¡­,¡± Calista trailed off. ¡°Being a mom is hard,¡± Harriet sympathized. ¡°I¡¯ve got two of my own back home.¡± ¡°How do you handle it, Harriet?¡± Calista asked, seeking solace. ¡°Being away from your loved ones.¡± ¡°The same way most of us handle it. I throw myself into my work, or seek solace in small pleasures,¡± Harriet answered. ¡°And at night, I cry myself to sleep.¡± Lightpaw placed a sympathetic paw on Harriet¡¯s waist, and Harriet absentmindedly scratched behind his ears. ¡°I¡¯ll get a new carving for Passi, Calista,¡± Harriet promised. ¡°It must have been misplaced with all the activity around here.¡± ¡°Thanks Harriet,¡± Calista said, as she left the artificer and the elder and headed for Rain on my Parade.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. * * * Calista immediately wished she¡¯d spend more time with Harriet and Lightpaw, as a familiar voice wafted out from Rain on my Parade. ¡°You¡¯re sure it will work?¡± Xavier asked as he held up a bottle of a thick, turquois liquid. ¡°I¡¯ve been off it for a month, and it has been growing¡­ difficult¡­ to manage.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure, Xavier. Stop fretting,¡± Rain answered sympathetically. ¡°It took a while for Anchovy to find the ingredients, but I brewed this last night especially for you. It will be an adequate substitute until I can figure out something better.¡± ¡°An adequate substitute,¡± Xavier mumbled skeptically. ¡°It¡¯ll probably have some weird side effect, like growing back hair.¡± ¡°It might,¡± Rain said with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°But given what it¡¯s for, back hair might be a feature, not a side effect.¡± ¡°Gross,¡± Xavier blanched. ¡°I¡¯d rather it grow something else instead, if¡­ Cerberus, will you knock that off!¡± Xavier¡¯s wolf pup, Cerberus, had run headfirst into the back wall. Anchovy, Rain¡¯s mischievous familiar, held a boar bone with his Invisible Hand talent above the wolf¡¯s head and led him straight into the wall. ¡°Anchovy, stop tormenting Cerberus,¡± Rain said absentmindedly. Xavier had been coming into the store regularly for the past week to talk with Rain, and once Anchovy had learned the wolf pup would blindly chase the bone, there was no stopping him. ¡°Seriously, Cerberus. Every damn day. You¡¯re letting that filthy cat get the best of you. Show some¡­ Fuck!¡± Anchovy hurled the boar bone at Xavier. It bounced off his forehead and into the lobby. Cerberus sped by his master, grasped the bone happily in his mouth and curled into a corner of the store to chew on it. ¡°Cycle-barren cat,¡± Xavier hissed, and Anchovy hissed back. ¡°Please don¡¯t swear at my cat,¡± Rain requested. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. As if your cat could bypass my toughness. Come on, Cerberus,¡± Xavier said tartly as he stashed the potion in his inventory. ¡°Will you come by tomorrow?¡± asked Rain hopefully. ¡°I¡¯ve come every other day. No reason to think tomorrow will be any different,¡± Xavier said simply, and turned to leave. He collided into Calista with a thud. ¡°Sorry,¡± muttered Xavier as he ducked around the Huntress and headed up the elevator of Tower One. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Calista asked curiously as the elevator doors closed. ¡°What? Cycle-barren?¡± Rain inquired. ¡°That¡¯s new, though I think I¡¯ve heard that phrase before.¡± ¡°No. He said sorry, and he said it to me, of all people,¡± Calista remarked as she walked up to the counter and opened her inventory. Rain pulled out a box from beneath the counter filled with healing and magic potions, and Anchovy began to shovel the potions, one-by-one, into Calista¡¯s inventory with his Invisible Hand. ¡°He was buried alive when Freelancer Tower collapsed, Calista,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle he survived.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known Xavier Holloway since high school¡­¡± started Calista. ¡°Where you bullied him¡­¡± interjected Rain. ¡°¡­ where I bullied him, because he deserved it¡­¡± Calista added self-righteously. ¡°And he has never, ever, apologized for anything. It gives me chills just to hear the word emerge from his mouth.¡± ¡°He almost died, Calista. That¡¯s enough to change anyone. Maybe he¡¯s decided to turn over a new leaf.¡± ¡°Rain, he just swore at your cat,¡± Calista pointed out. ¡°Hardly the behavior of a man looking for a fresh start. Rain shrugged. ¡°To be fair, Anchovy is a sneaky little bastard.¡± Anchovy growled indignantly, and Rain reached over and scratched him between the ears. ¡°You know you are, you loveable little bastard. Don¡¯t deny it. Embrace it.¡± The growl turned into a purr, and Anchovy curled up on the counter beneath Rain¡¯s hand as the final potion was added to Calista¡¯s inventory. ¡°Is he by himself?¡± Calista inquired. She¡¯d avoided Xavier over the past week, but she knew Rain talked to him every day. ¡°He¡¯s staying on the twelfth floor of tower one,¡± Rain informed her. ¡°Twelfth floor? Isn¡¯t that the floor Stone and his remaining cronies claimed?¡± ¡°All the other floors were taken by the time Xavier woke up, and Stone was the first ¨C and only ¨C person to offer him a place to stay,¡± Rain explained. ¡°It¡¯s not like we can have him stay at Milly¡¯s Meadow with us. Besides, Stone¡¯s cluster is one of the few still fighting in the wilds, so it was natural for Xavier to join them.¡± There were forty-eight floors spread throughout the three remaining towers and, after the massacre, only two hundred and ninety-five surviving players. In the days following the funeral, the Castle of Glass witnessed a mass exodus of players from their cramped cubicles. Empty floors were quickly claimed by small clusters of like-minded players, and together, the clusters worked as separate but coordinated teams to enhance the tower and keep it defended. Calista and Rain had elected to live in Milly¡¯s Meadow. Milly was the only one able to invite people to access it, so it was as secure a place as any to help raise Passi. ¡°Xavier calls each floor a ¡®guild¡¯,¡± Rain added. ¡°Though I don¡¯t think that¡¯s an apt description. Some of the groups share a common talent, like Kenji and Amir¡¯s construction team, but many are simply friends or lovers. Hey, did you hear about Bridget?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like Stone and Xavier together, Rain. I don¡¯t like that one bit,¡± Calista said sharply, ignoring the gossip. Rain handed Calista a thermos of Dark Introspection and a bowl of fruit for Passi. ¡°If they want to fight in the wilds, let them. You¡¯ve got better things to worry about. Small, winged, child-raising things. Remember?¡± Calista stowed the thermos and bowl in her inventory and sighed. ¡°Rain¡­,¡± she started, filled with doubt. ¡°Passi hates me. She¡­¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Rain interrupted. ¡°You need to spend this time with her. Your relationship isn¡¯t going to get any better if you keep avoiding each other. Now get! I¡¯ve got other customers to serve.¡± ¡°Thanks Rain,¡± Calista muttered. She started to leave but turned to ask one final question. ¡°Will you join me in the wilds tomorrow? To help search for Milly?¡± ¡°Calista¡­¡± Rain began, her voice suddenly apprehensive. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready to get out there yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re stronger than anyone here, Rain,¡± Calista said with concern. ¡°But you¡¯re quickly falling behind. You¡­ you need to get out there. You need to keep leveling up or¡­ or you won¡¯t make it.¡± Rain turned her gaze to Anchovy, but Calista could see the shame in her eyes. ¡°Cally, I¡­ I know. It¡¯s just¡­ between the Arena of Protection and the dragon¡­ my body¡¯s been torn apart and I¡¯ve watched so many people die. I just¡­ I just don¡¯t know if I have it in me to get back out there yet. So it¡¯s the same answer as yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Ask you tomorrow?¡± Calista recited, as her heart broke for her friend. ¡°Ask me tomorrow,¡± Rain confirmed, her voice barely audible. Calista shut the door behind her, just as Rain¡¯s tears began to fall onto the tiles of Rain on my Parade. Her dream. Her sanctuary. Her prison. * * * ¡°What do you mean she¡¯s not here?¡± Calista shouted in disbelief. She ignored the startled looks of the player and fairy healers that darted around the fledgling medical facility. ¡°She¡¯s supposed to be with you ¨C learning from you ¨C from sunrise to sunset!¡± ¡°Calista, Passi hasn¡¯t attended her lessons since the dragon attack,¡± Ying said defensively. ¡°I thought you knew. She said you wanted her to stay in Milly¡¯s Meadow until everything settled down.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to check with me, Ying?¡± Calista shouted as anger and worry collided. ¡°For fucks sakes. She¡¯s just a little kid. How could you be so irresponsible?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not her mother, Calista!¡± Ying snapped back, her eyes dark with weariness. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be filling that role. My team and I have been working our asses off over the last week. We¡¯ve still got thirty people here that aren¡¯t fully recovered, and just as many who are so traumatized that someone needs to keep a constant watch, so they don¡¯t jump off a cliff. Frankly, I don¡¯t have time to babysit a truant child, no matter how strong her talent is.¡± Calista haphazardly unloaded the shipment of potions onto the ground, fuming at Ying¡¯s words. ¡°And it¡¯s not like you¡¯ve been around for her either,¡± Ying added. ¡°So don¡¯t go blaming me.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve been trying to find her mother,¡± Calista muttered angrily as she aggressively placed the final potion on the ground and began to search frantically through her inventory. ¡°Shit¡­ I don¡¯t have anything. Ying, did Passi leave anything behind?¡± Ying retrieved a child¡¯s dress from a growing pile of laundry, its front stained with dried blood. ¡°Here. It¡¯s the dress she wore when she was hurt. We haven¡¯t found the time to get these washed and stitched.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Calista muttered softly as she snatched it from Ying¡¯s hands. She started to head for the door, until Ying¡¯s hand touched her shoulder. ¡°If she wants to resume her training, she can,¡± Ying added. ¡°We need all the help we can get around here.¡± Calista left without a response, not trusting herself to hold back a sarcastic reply. Clutching the dress tightly in her hand, she redirected her Unyielding Pursuit from Milly to Passi. She felt her heart sink as the bonds that searched for Milly without success recoiled. Although she knew the transfer of her target was temporary, Calista couldn¡¯t help but feel as though a small piece of her had just abandoned the search for the woman she loved. As her talent shifted to Passi, she felt the bonds immediately snap into place. Knowledge flooded into her mind, and a heartbeat later she knew exactly where Passi was. Before her next heartbeat, Calista was running as fast as she could. Headed west into the prairies. Into goblin territory. Chapter 99 - Shared Secrets Passiflora Brown crept through the prairie grass, her head low, a rusted dagger clenched tightly in her hand. She passed silently, her bare feet careful avoiding rocks and twigs below that might give her away. The three goblins were gathered around a small fire, a half-consumed deer carcass at their side. The fairy child blanched as she saw its guts spread out across the soil. Her finger gingerly caressed the blade as she observed the goblins and waited for the right opportunity. She stayed still as the grave. When they¡¯d eaten their fill of the poor creature, drowsiness would overcome them, and she¡¯d make her move. A gentle wind blew through the grass and across her simple, brown and green patterned dress that she¡¯d purchased from the Emporium in the dead of night. Her long, purple and white ponytail swayed across her back, her colorful, translucent wings tucked close to her side. The child who, at seven years old, didn¡¯t even reach her adoptive mother¡¯s waist, was smaller than the goblins, though at that moment she was thankful for her small size. A crow launched itself from the grass behind her and drew the attention of the goblins. Passiflora remained perfectly still, holding her breath, as the goblins scanned the grass, their eyes darting across her hiding spot. Reigning in her instinct to run, Passi¡¯s tried to plan what she would do if they spotted her. An upward thrust, hard and fast thought the ribs into the first one¡¯s heart. Leave the dagger. It¡¯ll get stuck in its ribs. I have another tied to my thigh. Go for the second one¡¯s eye. Then¡­ Then¡­ Her hand began to shake. Her dagger specialization talent granted her knowledge on how to fight, but it had its limits. She knew she wasn¡¯t fast enough to take on three at once. If they came at her at the same time¡­ Passi took a deep, silent breath, willing her mind and heart to calm down. It won¡¯t be the first monster you killed. You stabbed Xavier in the heart, remember? Her empty hand ran across her stomach to the small scar where the shard of the exploded blade had pierced her. She couldn¡¯t remember much after that ¨C couldn¡¯t recall the dragon¡¯s attack. All she knew was when she woke up at the Inlet of New Beginnings, her player screen had appeared. A mocking light that floated in mid-air, her crime plastered in bright white letters against the blue, glowing background. Assassin. Not much of an assassin though. Xavier survived. Passiflora spent the first few days after the dragon¡¯s attack in a state of complete mental panic. She kept looking over her shoulder, terrified Xavier would find her and take his revenge as she had sought hers. She panicked each time her player screen appeared after an errant thought, terrified it would reveal her crime, and the elders would banish her to the wilds. She felt utterly alone every day. Her mother had vanished, and Passiflora felt an intense anger towards her lover, Calista, though she didn¡¯t know why. She just couldn¡¯t stop yelling at her, and Calista¡¯s equally short temper meant each night simply descended into a screaming match. She¡¯d ditched her healing sessions with Ying and spent the first three days hidden away in Milly¡¯s Meadow. It was during the third day, as she watched the Manifold Toads bury themselves in the afternoon mud, that Passi¡¯s fear of the player screen finally gave way to curiosity. With a careful glance around the meadow to make sure Calista or Rain hadn¡¯t returned home early, she finally willed the screen to appear of her own volition. ¡°Passiflora Brown,¡± she murmured as she read her player screen for the first time in its entirety. ¡°Brown? Like¡­ like mom?¡± Passiflora didn¡¯t have a surname. The notion of a surname was as foreign a concept to fairies as humans were. Fairies passed on fragments of their names through the generations, like Twotongue and Tentongue. Yet as Passiflora stared at her name ¨C a name that embraced her as Milly¡¯s adopted daughter ¨C she grew to see the screen not as a threat, but as her only companion in the darkness. It wasn¡¯t long after that Passiflora discovered her inventory. Under the following day¡¯s afternoon sun, she found herself in the wilds beyond Milly¡¯s Meadow, picking prairie flowers and gathering tubers with the rusted dagger she¡¯d taken from Rain¡¯s workshop. She was amazed each time she watched them disappear into the magical storage space and, for a moment, she was able to distract herself from the loneliness and sorrow that had so quickly reasserted itself in her life. It was under the light of the setting sun, as she bundled together a bouquet of wildflowers, that Passiflora killed her first monster. The goblin had sprung from the grass, its hungry eyes fixed on the fairy girl as it struck. Passiflora twisted at the last second, the blow of its club glancing off her shoulder instead of caving in her skull. Passiflora screamed, but as she did, her fingers reflexively plucked the rusted dagger from her dress and thrust it between the ribs of the goblin and into its heart ¨C her dagger specialist talent guiding a perfect killing strike. The goblin collapsed, its life extinguished and Passiflora earned her first level. She returned her attention to the three goblins on the prairie, who had settled back down beside the fire. I can do this. If I kill, I get stronger. If I get stronger, I can find my mom. The largest of the three left the fire and stumbled into the tall grass, drunk on the raw meat it had devoured like a starved pig. It squatted low, and the smell that drifted to Passiflora¡¯s nose left no doubt as to what it was doing. Passiflora held her breath and steeled herself. Keeping low, she moved through the grass, dagger in hand, until she had a clear view of the back of the oblivious goblin¡¯s neck. You can¡­ you can do this, Passi. It¡¯s a monster. It kills for fun. It¡­ it deserves to die. Passiflora¡¯s stomach turned. Xavier was revenge. The goblin in the woods was self-defense. This was different. This was murder. The goblin turned its head to scratch its soiled rear, and its eyes fell upon the fairy girl in the grass. Oh no¡­ no, no no¡­ Passiflora darted forward and buried her dagger into the creature¡¯s right eye. She felt the blade pierce through and strike bone beneath. Blood and vitreous spurted onto her hands and her fingers slipped before the blade could enter its brain. The goblin howled in pain, its hands clawing at the dagger lodged in its eye. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other two goblins leap to their feet and run in her direction. No! No, no, no¡­ Passiflora grasped the second dagger tied to her thigh and thrust it over and over into wounded goblin¡¯s chest, her precision lost to panic. The goblin spasmed, and in its agony it ripped the dagger from its eye. Blood spurted out from the wound and splashed across Passiflora¡¯s face. She could taste the fetid iron of the blood on her lips. ¡°Just die. Please just die,¡± Passiflora begged as she pulled her dagger from the goblin¡¯s chest one last time. The goblin collapsed to its knees, its dead eyes gazing at its killer.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Passiflora unfurled her wings and launched herself into the air, just as the two remaining Goblins ripped into the long grass. Her heart raced as the goblin¡¯s blood dripped from her hands and trickled down her cheek. She was eight feet into the air when the second goblin hurled its club and struck her in the back. The breath knocked from her lungs, Passiflora plummeted and struck the ground hard. Her wrist snapped as she landed on her side. Suppressing a scream, she scrambled to her feet, dagger clutched in her uninjured hand. The second goblin, now unarmed, lunged at her with unfurled claws. She dipped under its blow and jammed her dagger through its ribs and into its heart. She let go of the dagger as the creature collapsed so it didn¡¯t pull her down with it. The final goblin swung its club horizontally, its dented wood swishing through the grass. Passiflora was forced backwards. She tripped on a rock hidden in the grass and tumbled to the earth. Oh gods, I¡¯m going to die. ¡°Mom! Please, help me! Mom! Mom!¡± Passiflora screamed, pouring everything she had into a cry she knew was in vain. The goblin toyed with the child, pinning her arm against the ground as it slowly sliced her skin from shoulder to elbow. ¡°Mom!¡± The goblin raised its club for the killing blow. Passiflora shut her eyes and curled into a helpless ball, waiting for darkness to consume her. It never came. Against the rumble of impossibly quick footsteps, the weight of the goblin on her chest suddenly vanished, and the air was filled with the high-pitched shriek of goblin outrage. Passi cracked open her eyes. The goblin lay on the ground, its club at Passiflora¡¯s feet. A winged sandal was pressed firmly against its neck, as it raised its hands in pitiful surrender. ¡°Passi, honey, are you okay?¡± Calista asked, her eyes never leaving the monster trapped beneath her foot. ¡°I¡¯m here. You¡¯re safe.¡± Passiflora clasped her fractured wrist tightly and avoided Calista¡¯s gaze as anger and shame collided within her. She didn¡¯t answer. ¡°What are you doing here, Passiflora,¡± Calista demanded sharply, the woman¡¯s temper on full display, as if the goblin beneath her foot were meaningless. ¡°You haven¡¯t been attending your lessons. You¡¯ve been lying to us for days. And now I find you out here? What is wrong with you! You could have been killed.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t my mom!¡± Passiflora shouted back as she struggled to her feet, her own anger dulling the throbbing pain. ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you anything! You can¡¯t tell me what to do!¡± ¡°Your mom told me to take care of you, so yes, I will tell you what to do,¡± Calista said with immense frustration. ¡°And you will start listening to me.¡± ¡°I hate you,¡± Passiflora shrieked, as the source of her anger finally showed itself. ¡°You could have saved her. You should have saved her. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I¡¯d still have my mom.¡± The accusation shook Calista to her core. ¡°I¡­ I should have saved her,¡± Calista whispered, as much to herself as the child. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying, Passi. I¡¯m out there every day, trying to find even the smallest trace of her. And I can¡¯t. I just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll find her myself,¡± Passi said with cold determination. ¡°I¡¯ll get as strong as you, and I¡¯ll save her. I won¡¯t abandon her, like you abandoned me!¡± ¡°Passi, I know I haven¡¯t been around much lately, but the wilds are dangerous. You¡¯re just a child. You can¡¯t¡­ damn it!¡± The goblin trapped beneath Calista¡¯s foot bit into her toe hard with its pointed teeth. Calista pulled back, more in surprise than in pain, and the goblin tried to scramble away into the tall grass. ¡°You motherfucker!¡± Calista said furiously as she grasped the goblin¡¯s leg and hoisted him into the air. The goblin flailed in Calista¡¯s grip, but its claws glanced off Calista¡¯s skin as if it were stone. ¡°You think I¡¯m letting you go after you tried to kill my daughter?¡± ¡°She attacked us first,¡± the goblin screeched. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. You guys talk now,¡± Calista spat. ¡°Fucking AI Director. What do you mean she¡­¡± Passiflora panicked. In one fluid motion, she grabbed the goblin¡¯s club with her uninjured hand and swung it into the goblin¡¯s skull. There was a sickening crack, and the goblin stopped flailing. Passiflora struck again and again, as if the goblin were a morbid pi?ata, until Calista grasped her wrist tightly. ¡°Passi, stop! It¡¯s dead,¡± Calista said in utter shock. ¡°What has gotten into you? You¡­¡± Calista¡¯s eyes grew wide as the victory screen appeared in front of Passiflora.
Congratulations! You have defeated goblin hunting party. You have been awarded 25 experience points Passiflora Brown has increased to Level 3. Two attribute points acquired Items: Soiled Goblin Loincloth x 2 Gold: 20
¡°Passi¡­ what¡­,¡± Calista stuttered, her mind whirling from the revelation. Passi bolted into the tall grass and launched herself into the air, her wings flapping as fast as she could. She saw. Oh gods, she saw. She¡¯ll know. They¡¯ll banish me. I need to get away! I need to¡­ She didn¡¯t make it far. Calista activated her Talaria of Mercury and soared into the air. Passiflora felt Calista¡¯s arms wrapped around her chest and wings, and she struggled against the woman¡¯s impossible strength. ¡°Passi! Calm down,¡± Calista soothed, her anger at the child evaporated in an instant. ¡°Talk to me, sweetheart.¡± Passiflora stopped her struggles, unable to escape. She erupted into tears, her world collapsing around her. Calista held Passi protectively in her arms, and let her daughter finally cry out the feelings she¡¯d kept hidden. * * * ¡°We¡¯ve all got one, even your mother. See, this one is mine,¡± Calista said softly as she opened her player screen. They sat on a rotted log beside a lazy brook, the battleground left behind. Passi was nestled in the crook of Calista¡¯s arm, and the gurgle of the water lent a serenity to the prairies that helped calm them both. Their tempers had faded, and in their wake had come a bond forged in mutual sorrow and need. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ just like mine,¡± Passi muttered, as exhaustion replaced adrenaline. ¡°They appeared when we were dragged to this world,¡± Calista revealed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Passi. I should have told you all this when you joined our family. It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t want the fairies to think you were freaks,¡± Passi finished. Aside from her crime, it was how she felt. ¡°Something like that,¡± Calista admitted. ¡°This system gives us access to incredible strength and powers, and it is easy to think we are something we¡¯re not. Nobori has that shrine to Milly in the mountains, and¡­ well, you know what he¡¯s been saying about her.¡± ¡°I¡­ I asked if Milly was a goddess once,¡± Passi whispered, ashamed. Calista gave a soft chuckle. ¡°She¡¯s my goddess. What I don¡¯t understand is how you became a player. Can you open your screen for me?¡± Passiflora began to shake. ¡°Passi, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Calista asked gently, squeezing her shoulders. ¡°You can tell me, sweetheart.¡± ¡°I¡­ I did something bad,¡± admitted Passiflora with a whimper as she opened her screen.
Passiflora Brown Level: 3 Specialty: Healer, Assassin Class: None Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 2 Enhanced: 2 Agility: Base: 6 Enhanced: 6 Toughness: Base: 4 Enhanced: 4 Magic: Base: 12 Enhanced: 12 Talents: Assassination - Dagger Specialist (advanced), Sneak (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Healer¡¯s Touch (beginner) Fairy Magic ¨C Flight (beginner) Unique Talent: None Class Talents: None Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: None
¡°Assassin?¡± Calista asked, confused. ¡°Passi, who¡­¡± ¡°Xavier,¡± Passi answered with a mixture of shame and righteousness. ¡°He¡­ he killed my clan. He killed them all, Cally. I couldn¡¯t just let him get away with it. I¡­ I stole Rain¡¯s dagger and¡­ and I killed him. Only, he didn¡¯t die! And now he¡¯s going to try to get revenge, and you weren¡¯t around to protect me, and I was so scared¡­ and¡­¡± Passi¡¯s rambling divulged into a renewed wave of tears. Calista held her close as guilt squeezed her heart. ¡°Sweetheart¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I was so consumed by my search for Milly that I didn¡¯t see what you were going through. I should have been there for you. But I¡¯m here now, and I¡¯m not going to let anything happen to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m a murderer, Cally,¡± Passi sobbed. ¡°I mean, you aren¡¯t a very good one,¡± Calista said with a hint of humor, trying to reassure her. ¡°Xavier¡¯s still alive. And, honestly, if it wasn¡¯t you, it was going to be someone else. He¡¯s an easy guy to hate.¡± ¡°If the fairies find out, they¡¯ll banish me. I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± Calista didn¡¯t respond for a long while. She stroked Passi¡¯s back gently as she considered her next words carefully. ¡°I killed Judy Brass,¡± Calista whispered softly. Passiflora stared up at the woman with shock. ¡°It was during the dragon attack,¡± Calista continued. ¡°She¡­ she was tormenting Milly. She was threatening my family. I¡­ I don¡¯t regret killing her. But know what it¡¯s like to hold such a dark secret close to your heart. Even Rain doesn¡¯t know what I did.¡± ¡°So¡­ so we¡¯re both murderers?¡± Passi asked. ¡°Yah, I guess we are¡­,¡± Calista agreed. She got to her feet and hauled the fairy child up with her. ¡°And these murders have some work to do.¡± ¡°Work?¡± asked Passi. ¡°Work,¡± said Calista definitively, handing Passi the rusted daggers she¡¯d torn out of the goblins¡¯ bodies. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ll have Rain craft you better equipment, and then you and I are going hunting. We¡¯ll get you strong, and, together, we¡¯re going to find Milly and bring her home.¡± Passiflora gave an enthusiastic nod, her heart filled with belonging. She grabbed hold of Calista¡¯s hand and squeezed it tightly. ¡°Where do you think she is?¡± Passiflora asked as they walked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Passi,¡± Calista answered. ¡°But wherever she is, I pity whatever manner of beast or god might get in her way.¡± As they headed for the Castle of Glass, the sun setting in the west, Passiflora Brown felt hopeful for the first time since the attack. Her relationship with Calista had been rekindled, and, together, they would find her mother and bring her home. Chapter 100 - Milly Alone Drops of rain pelted against the stone roof of Milly¡¯s shelter as the storm settled over the island. The howl of the wind met the roar of the waves as they crashed upon the shore, creating a symphony of sounds that filtered in through the thin slits in the walls that she had left to promote air flow in the tiny room. Storm clouds blocked the stars above, and her only light was that of the single ball of flame half-buried in the sandy floor of her shelter. Milly sat on a bed fashioned from the earth, her back pressed against the stone wall. She absentmindedly picked at the octopus she had caught and roasted. She¡¯d overcooked it, so it was tough and chewy. I never thought I¡¯d miss my routine of potatoes, peas, and ramen, but here we are. God, what I wouldn¡¯t give for a potato. She pressed her hand against the stone, creating a fist-sized hole, and used her water magic to draw in rainwater for a drink. It was crisp and clean, and helped the octopus slide down her throat. She gagged and returned the remainder of her meal to her inventory. ¡°That was a bad idea,¡± she said to the empty shelter, her words half-lost in the roar of the storm. ¡°Tomorrow, I go back to boar. Gods, after a month I¡¯m so sick of boar, but it¡¯s better than rubbery octopus. Yuck!¡± Six days ago, Milly had fallen through the rift in the sky and found herself washed up on the island¡¯s shore. She knew she was in the eastern archipelago and far beyond the range of Calista¡¯s telepathy, which meant she was more than three hundred miles from home. And probably much further than that, given how strong the monsters are on this island. For the first four days, she had tried to reach the shimmering metal ruins ¨C the only artificial construction she¡¯d seen since she¡¯d arrived ¨C atop the island¡¯s solitary mountain. Yet she¡¯d been stymied, time and time again, by the strength and speed of the monstrosities that roamed the island. She¡¯d tried to sneak through packs of hunting lizardmen, herds of vicious chimeras, and the massive birds of prey that soared through the island¡¯s skies, but, inevitably, she would be forced to flee before she made it to the base of the mountain. Close calls were frequent, and she found herself spending as much time nursing her injuries as she did trying to traverse the jungle. Her initial optimism faded with each failure, and with every sunset she grew more desperate and lonelier. She stayed in a different location each night to avoid detection. In a tiny hovel of earth and stone fashioned on the beach, her mind would drift to her failures, and each morning she struggled more to throw off the blanket of hopelessness that settled over her as she slept. It was in the afternoon of her fifth day on the island, as she weaved her way towards the mountain from a westerly path, that the island threw her a bone. There, in the midst of a tiny clearing five miles from the mountain, was a Waypoint Pillar. The pillar was significantly smaller than those she had encountered around the Castle of Glass. The obelisk was only six feet off the ground, and its black surface was carved with brilliant blue symbols that she couldn¡¯t read, yet she was sure it was a Waypoint Pillar. It has to be. It must be! Milly¡¯s heart soared, until she saw the three lizardman guarding it. The green scaled beasts skittered on all fours when they moved yet stood upright while on watch. They towered over the pillar, twice its size, their forked tongues tasting the air to detect the scent of intruders. Although they carried tridents as weapons, it was their six-foot tail that was the real threat. Its muscular mass was lightning fast, and strong enough to crack through thick jungle trees. I can do this. They are strong, but so am I, and I have the element of surprise. If I take them out, I can go home. I can see my family again. She struck hard and fast. Encasing the area in her fog, she¡¯d pelted the beasts with lightning and fire before dashing in for a finishing blow with her Obsidian Fists. It was only by virtue of her crystal fog that she sensed the strike of the largest beast¡¯s tail and was able to twist her body at the last moment to take only a glancing blow. Four of her ribs cracked on impact, and she was hurled through the forest. Another two ribs shattered as she slammed into a massive palm tree, and her vision blurred as her head was whipped backwards. If that had hit me full, I¡¯d be dead. Fuck, I need to run. I need to¡­ No! They came at her, covering the distance in a second. Milly acted on instinct and channeled a blast of air at her feet. She flew into the air and crashed through the jungle canopy. She grasped hold of a narrow branch and swung herself to the neighboring tree, moving through the jungle as if she were a fleeing monkey, her chest burning from the pain. She was a mile away from the Waypoint Pillar before she realized the lizardmen had stopped pursuing her. She¡¯d spend her sixth day on the island healing her injuries. They¡­ they were too strong. I hit them with everything I had, and it didn¡¯t even phase them. What else can I do? How am I going to get home? I can barely survive. Hopelessness returned. The island had showed her a way out but placed it beyond her reach. Sapped of energy and unable to focus, she just stared out at the ocean waves, lost in a sea of emotions. It was a sea she was intimately familiar with, but it wasn¡¯t until the early evening, after her final rib clicked into place, that she summoned up the courage to take out the medication Rain had brewed for her depression. She held the bottle in her hand and stared at it blankly. I only have five doses left. What happens when it runs out? Anxiety added itself to her emotional storm as she popped the cork and drank. The storm rolled off the sea, and against the pelting of the rain against her shelter her mind drifted to her family. Calista. Passi. Rain. I miss you so much. I¡¯ve spent my whole life alone, and now that I¡¯ve found my family ¨C my true family ¨C I can¡¯t imagine spending the rest of my life alone. ¡°I¡¯m not going to give up,¡± she declared with determination. ¡°I will get back to them. I won¡¯t let myself die on this island.¡± That evening, she cooked the octopus, regretted it, and curled into her bed of earth, a blanket from her inventory pulled up to her shoulders to stave off the chill of the rain. She cried until exhaustion claimed her, but the tears felt cathartic as the emotions she¡¯d held back for a week dripped into the soil and disappeared beneath the sand.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. I will see you again, my love. I promise. * * * It was at sunrise on her seventh day on the island, and as Milly watched the herd of capybara play in the ocean waves, she found in a months-old conversation with Xavier an idea. A crazy idea that would make even her former friend proud. Xavier was talking at her about a new MMORPG, though Milly had no idea what that was. It was the latest in a long line of obsessions for the gamer. As usual, Milly had only been half listening. ¡°See, Milly, the further you get away from the starting point, the more difficult the enemies become,¡± Xavier instructed her as Milly filled out Xavier¡¯s paperwork from his afternoon customer calls. Milly hadn¡¯t cared, but she¡¯d been happy enough letting Xavier fill the silence. ¡°This is, of course, standard design for every RPG. But in an open world MMORPG like The Fall of the Queen, you can quickly find yourself somewhere you aren¡¯t supposed to be, especially if you stray far from home. And if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time¡­¡± Xavier snapped his fingers dramatically. ¡°You¡¯re fucked. Unless, of course, you¡¯re as clever as I am.¡± ¡°Of course, Xavier,¡± Milly said absentmindedly, trying to recall whether the customer¡¯s claim needed to be filed as an A-32 or A-33. ¡°So it¡¯s day one ¨C only five hours after The Fall of the Queen¡¯s release ¨C and I come across this tiny corner with a river of lava flowing from a volcano. Everything on the map is level fifty or higher, and I¡¯m there at level five. And I figure out how to kite one of these high-level beasties straight into the lava river. Boom! I¡¯m level twenty. Two more and I¡¯m level thirty. In five hours, Milly!¡± He looked towards her for her approval, and she gave him a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who knows about it,¡± Xavier bragged. ¡°I¡¯m the highest-level player in the game. No one can touch me.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that cheating?¡± Milly dared to ask, and instantly regretted it. ¡°No. Milly. It¡¯s not cheating,¡± he spat with irritation. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault those idiot game designers used that mechanic. If you don¡¯t use what you¡¯re given to win, you¡¯re a fool.¡± ¡°So¡­ what level did you get up to?¡± Milly asked, anything but curious, but they still had fifteen minutes to kill before the end of the day. ¡°Those fuckers,¡± Xavier growled. ¡°I was level sixty ¨C six times higher than the next strongest player ¨C when they dropped a patch. Next thing I knew, I was rolled back to level five and my strategy had been eliminated. Fucking bullshit is what it is.¡± Milly had quickly forgotten about the conversation ¨C filing it away with the rest of Xavier¡¯s rants ¨C but as she watched the sunrise and thought on the Waypoint Pillar and its three lizardmen guards, the conversation was suddenly very relevant. ¡°I don¡¯t have a river of lava, but there is a cliff nearby the pillar,¡± Milly said as a plan came together in her head. ¡°I can do this. If I¡¯ve learned anything this past month, it¡¯s that I¡¯m at least as clever as Xavier fucking Holloway.¡± * * * The sun had started to crest below the ocean¡¯s western horizon when Milly returned to the Waypoint Pillar. The three lizardmen milled around it, toying with a small capybara that had wandered too close, oblivious to the eyes of the anxious player. The squeals of the capybara were desperate as they slowly skinned it alive with their tridents. The trap was set. It was simple, but it had taken her all day to find the perfect spot and carefully carve the stone to suit her needs. All it needed now was the bait. Me. ¡°I¡¯ve been nothing more than prey to the monsters on this island. It¡¯s time to change that,¡± Milly said, as she stepped out of her hiding spot, the lizardmen just inside the range of her magic. ¡°It¡¯s time this island learned the power of The Witch of the Castle of Glass!¡± The lizardmen turned their heads towards Milly, the capybara suddenly forgotten. Milly fought the panic inside her and launched a shard of ice the length of her forearm towards the creatures. It skewered the capybara through the head, killing it instantly and ending it suffering. Milly didn¡¯t wait to see if they took the bait. She turned and ran as fast as she could, weaving her way through the trees as gusts of air from her palms propelled her forward, headed straight for the cliff only a minute away. I just hope I lured all three. Snap snap snap snap! Milly risked a look behind her. The three lizards crashed through the jungle, their massive bodies and muscular tails devastating everything in their path. Milly could feel the rumble of the earth beneath her feet as they approached, quickly closing the distance between them despite Milly¡¯s head start. Shit. They¡¯re too fast. Come on Milly, you can do this. Go faster! She pushed as much magic into her palms as she could handle as her wind propelled her forward. A single misstep ¨C a stumble on a stone or an errant low-hanging branch ¨C would spell her end. She ducked and weaved, trusting her instincts and enhanced agility, as every step took her closer to the edge. It came upon her quickly ¨C the first marker. A carefully stacked tower of stones three hundred feet away from the forty-foot-high seaside cliff. She could feel it now ¨C the slight uphill slope of the earth that would become the sheer drop-off to the beach below. Milly cast her crystal fog ahead of her, careful not to obscure the lizardmen¡¯s view of their fleeing prey until the moment was right. The thick mist flowed through the trees and gathered around the cliff, a narrow path of kept clear by the will of the witch until it was time. As she passed her second marker, her mind danced with everything that could go wrong over the next few seconds. I miss the gap. They don¡¯t slip. They can fly. They¡­ no, Milly. Stop it. You¡¯re committed. Just do this. Do it! Milly passed her final marker ¨C fifty feet from the edge ¨C and braced herself. Beneath her, the cliff¡¯s foundations had been hollowed out by the relentless march of the tide, leaving a twenty-foot lip that Milly had spent the morning painstakingly manipulating to her purpose. The lizardmen were right behind her, a moment away from striking her down, when Milly foot touched the rink of ice that stretched the final twenty feet to the cliff¡¯s edge. The afternoon sun had melted its surface just enough to make it incredibly slick, and it took every bit of Milly¡¯s agility to pull off what needed to happen next. Now! Milly snapped her fingers, and the gathered mist held at bay rolled into the narrow path like a bursting dam, obscuring everything from view. She slid along the ice, her crystal fog guiding the way, until she reached the foot-and-a-half wide, six-foot-deep gap in the ice ¨C a person-sized hole filled with water chilled to the edge of freezing. She plummeted into its depths, and as the cold sucked the breath from her lungs, she reached her hands towards the sky and froze the water above her, finishing the sheet of ice. The lizards, blinded by the mist, struck the ice, and the sudden and unexpected slipperiness caused their legs to fly out from under them. The three predators landed on their bellies and slid along the ice and over the cliff, straight into the pit of sharp spikes that Milly had carved in the beach far below. Even through the ice, she could hear the shrieks of pain and fury as the three lizardmen found themselves skewered on the spikes below. It won¡¯t be enough. They¡¯re too strong for that to kill them. Come on, Milly! Final step! Milly pressed her hands against the stone at her feet and channeled everything she had into her earth magic. Crack! A fissure ran straight through the overhanging edge of the cliff. Milly braced herself ¨C she was in gravity¡¯s hands now ¨C as she felt herself begin to fall. The entire overhang ¨C hundreds upon hundreds of tons of plummeting stone ¨C fell onto the pit of spikes and crushed the three lizardmen skewered within. As rocky cliff struck beach, Milly¡¯s back slammed against the stone, stealing the last of the breath. The ice above her shattered from the impact, and Milly launched herself out of her hole with a final, intense blast of air before the tiny shelter collapsed in on itself. She rocketed through the air and splashed down into the ocean as the cliff crumbled. She breached the water, gasping for breath, and erupted with a whoop of joy as she saw the victory screen appear before her.
Congratulations! You have defeated Waypoint Guard x 3. You have been awarded 300,000 experience points. You have leveled up ten times and received twenty attribute points, five class talent points, and two general talent points. Item Received: Lizardman eyes x 5, Lizardman tail x 1, Talent Book: Detect Life Gold: 56,060
¡°Holy¡­ holy shit!¡± Milly swore, her heart soaring as she swam back to shore. ¡°Xavier might be a prat, but the man knows his exploits.¡± She hauled herself onto shore, dried her clothes with her fire, and leaped into the air with excitement. She¡¯d taken the Waypoint. She was going home. Chapter 101 - Project Rebirth
Talent Book: Detect Life (Beginner) The ability to view the gift of the Nexus ¨C the essence of life. Allows player to detect lifeforms within a radius proportional to their magic ability. Prerequisite Talents: Improved Perception (beginner) You may not learn the talent ¡°Detect Life (Beginner)¡± as prerequisites have not been met.
Milly sat on the beach, surrounded by her player screens, the talent book heavy in her hands. Against the gentle roar of the waves and occasional crack of the fallen cliff, she wondered what she should do with her ten levels worth of talent points and attributes. A desperate desire urged her to head straight for the undefended Waypoint Pillar ¨C to Cally and Passi and Rain that were beyond it ¨C but her pragmatic side held the urge at bay. Her magic was exhausted, and even though the waypoint was nearby, monsters swarmed the jungle. If she encountered a single enemy along the way, the only thing she would have gained from all this would be an early grave. Be patient, Milly. Be patient. You¡¯ll see Cally soon. Just make sure you get there in one piece. Her heart raced, adrenaline from her victory flowing in her blood. Despite her efforts to focus on her level up, her mind kept drifting back to Calista and the intense desire to see her again. God, I want to hold her. And kiss her. I want us to tear off each other¡¯s clothes. Feel her breasts pressed tight against me, and¡­ She shook her head vigorously, trying to clear her head. God, what¡¯s gotten into you, Milly. I know it¡¯s been a week since you¡¯ve been with her, but you need to pay attention to more important things. Focus. She gazed down at the talent book in her hands. The leather-bound tomb was hefty, its weatherworn surface marred by faded colors and stains of age. It felt ancient ¨C older than anything she had encountered in this world. The tome¡¯s prerequisites would require her to spend one of her two general talent points ¨C the points she could spend on any talent ¨C on the Improved Perceptional ability. Although her gothic boots granted that talent, apparently didn¡¯t count towards prerequisites. That makes sense. It¡¯s not really my talent after all. I¡¯m just borrowing it from my boots. If it did work that way, I¡¯m sure Xavier would have exploited the crap out the mechanic. ¡°But it¡¯s not where I wanted to spend my talent point,¡± Milly sighed. ¡°I wanted to increase my hand-to-hand and regeneration. Yet what can I do? Detect Life is perfect for the wilds. I¡¯ll let me sense enemies much earlier, which means I could avoid or ambush them. If I¡¯d had this a week ago, I would have made it to the ruins the first day I was here.¡± Milly chose the Improved Perception talent, and a notification appeared as it combined with the skill already granted by her gothic boots.
Improved Perception (beginner) acquired. Existing equipment evolves Improved Perception (beginner) to Improved Perception (advanced).
The world around her erupted into a cascade of vivid colors, sounds, and smells, as all her senses surpassed human ability. ¡°Woah, this is incredible! Everything is so bright. So real.¡± It was as if she were seeing the world around her for the first time. She could feel the natural fissures in the earth and spot an orange stone the size of a pinhead in the sand. She heard the wind brushing past individual leaves in the jungle, the trickle of a nearby stream as it bent around stones, and the whispered chirps of creatures scurrying under the ferns. The scent of a nearby blossom nearly overpowered her, and she had to quickly learned how to dull the sensations she didn¡¯t need. ¡°Everything is so heightened. Tastes, smells, sounds, touch. Cally got this level of perception after the Arena of Protection. How did she¡­ oh¡­ ohhh¡­¡± Milly¡¯s face erupted in a deep blush as her thoughts drifted back to their first night making love after Calista upgrade her perception. She was an animal. Licking me. Telling me how good I taste. How good I feel. Her fingers ¨C she hit just the right spots. And my moans¡­ she couldn¡¯t get enough of my moans¡­ Fuck¡­ Milly squirmed in the sand, as she tried to reel in her thoughts once more. ¡°You don¡¯t have time for this, Milly,¡± she scolded herself. ¡°You¡¯ll be home soon enough. And then¡­ then she¡¯ll be the one moaning.¡± Milly bit her lip and returned her attention to the tomb. ¡°Okay, talent book¡­¡± Milly mumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±
Talent Book: Detect Life (Beginner) The ability to view the gift of the Nexus ¨C the essence of life. Allows player to detect lifeforms within a radius proportional to their magic ability. Prerequisite Talents: Improved Perception (beginner) You may learn the talent ¡°Detect Life (Beginner)¡± Do you wish to learn the talent ¡°Detect Life (Beginner)¡±?
¡°Yes,¡± Milly said with conviction.
#Error# Detect Life was designed for an older God Contest operating system. This talent may not be compatible with this version of the God Contest. Do you wish to continue?
¡°What? An old operating system?¡± Milly whispered. ¡°Does that mean it¡¯s from a previous God Contest?¡± If you don¡¯t use what you¡¯re given to win, you¡¯re a fool. That¡¯s what Xavier said. If it isn¡¯t supposed to be in this God Contest¡­ perhaps having it give me an advantage. I¡¯ll just have to be careful. ¡°I want to learn the talent.¡± The leather-bound tomb disintegrated into a fine golden mist, which spiraled up into the air and entered through her pupils. Milly felt stabbing pain in her eye but forced herself not to blink until the last particle of mist disappeared.
You have learned the talent ¡°Detect Life (#error#)¡±
The world lit up with a blinding, golden light as if she were staring at the sun. Milly shut her eyes tightly to block the light and tried not to panic. Did I blind myself? No, I must be able to control it, just like improved perception. Focus. Milly took a deep breath, concentrated on turning off the talent, and opened her eyes. The golden light disappeared, and her vision was as it once was. ¡°Yes!¡± shouted Milly triumphantly, feeling more than a little relief. ¡°Now, be intentional. Add in the monsters. Larger creatures. Maybe¡­ any creature larger than my palm?¡± As she added each, one-by-one, she began to see a faint golden outline of nearby creatures. She could pinpoint every fish beneath the waves, every mouse that scurried beneath the undergrowth, and every bird in the canopy above within a hundred feet. Focusing on the mice, she was able to eliminate them from her perception. Once she¡¯d figured out the mechanics, the talent came to her intuitively. I don¡¯t need the mice and birds, but I¡¯ll keep the fish. A little fine tuning and¡­ there! Now I should only be able to detect the creatures that I need to be aware of¡­ unless there¡¯s some massively powerful mouse, I suppose. I can¡¯t let my guard down, but at least I¡¯ll be safer in the wilds. ¡°Now, for all my magic talents. The first four are easy,¡± Milly said as she scrolled through the talent web. ¡°Cally and I planned this out a week ago. When I elevated my water magic to advanced, it became much stronger and more economical to use. So I need to use four points for my other magic - fire, earth, air and telekinesis.¡± Milly added those points, and immediately felt the difference. If I¡¯d had advanced earth magic earlier today, I could have finished that cliff trap in a fraction of the time. Though I wouldn¡¯t have traded my fog for anything. It¡¯s saved me more times than I can count. ¡°For my second general talent point, I¡¯ll evolve my hand-to-hand. I can pick regeneration next time. And I¡¯ll put my twenty attribute points all into magic.¡± She felt a surge in her magic power, as well as the size of her magic reserves and its recovery rate. ¡°And¡­ that¡¯s as far as Cally and I planned,¡± Milly sighed, as she stared blankly at the talent web. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to get ten levels all at once. I still have three more to pick.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Milly stretched out on her back and stared up at the cloudless sky as she scrolled through the innumerable options available on the talent web. ¡°There are so many choices. Manipulate Colors? Animate Golem? Professional Baking? Sound Projection? Actually, Cosmo should take that for his band. I hate to praise a former CEO, but they¡¯re actually pretty good.¡± Milly¡¯s eyes drifted to a line of talents outlined in pink. ¡°What¡¯s this one? Enhance Performance? Sounds promising. I wonder what it¡­ oh¡­ oh my¡­¡±
Enhance Performance Allows the player to magically enhance sexual experience in self and others. This talent is a prerequisite for all sexual magical talents.
¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s not going to help us win the God Contest,¡± Milly stuttered as she blushed fiercely, her thoughts returning to the woman she loved and their imminent reunion. ¡°There¡¯s just¡­ I mean, I suppose there could be scenarios, but¡­ I mean, I could. They don¡¯t all have to be survival talents, right?¡± Milly closed the talent web and stared at a wisp of cloud passing overhead until her heart stopped racing. ¡°It¡¯s just the adrenaline, Milly,¡± she told herself, taking slow, deep breaths. ¡°You crushed some lizards with an entire cliff and now you can¡¯t think straight. And in a few minutes, you¡¯ll be back with Cally. In her arms¡­ kissing her¡­¡± The thought sent an excited shiver down Milly¡¯s spine. Calista¡¯s lips on mine. Her tongue darting between my teeth. My hands on her hips as I slowly kiss down her stomach as my fingers¡­ ¡°Fuck¡­ Milly, keep your head in the game,¡± she scolded herself. ¡°You went your whole life without sex before you met Cally. I know it¡¯s been a week but focus on what¡¯s important.¡± Like the small of her back. Her tight butt. The way she feels between my¡­ ¡°I need to get home!¡± Milly declared, hopping to her feet and pacing along the shoreline. ¡°Here. This one. Teleportation. That¡¯s a useful talent. It¡¯s only short distances and it takes a lot of magic, but it¡¯ll be perfect for a quick escape.¡± She quickly selected it and used a second point to upgrade it to advanced. ¡°Just one more talent point to assign until I can see her. Come on Milly, what do you want? Metal magic like Rain? Chaotic magic? Angelic?¡± I have an angel. My angel. With her crimson hair that I love to run my fingers through as she¡­ ¡°Oh, fuck it!¡± Milly scrolled back to the pink-outlined web and selected Enhance Performance. ¡°Stupid choice. Stupid, stupid, stupid,¡± she muttered as she brushed the sand off her dress and strode purposefully into the jungle, headed for the pillar. * * * Her Detect Life talent proved its worth less than a minute inside the jungle as she glimpsed a faint sparkle in the sky above. She dove under a patch of ferns and wrapped a cocoon of air around her to prevent her scent from drifting with the wind ¨C a trick she¡¯d learned during her first day on the island. The monster that flew overhead was the size of a truck, with the body of an eagle and the face of a woman. Milly sat perfectly still as its horrendous, high-pitched scream startled a pack of boars that had been wallowing in a nearby mudhole. The boars bolted in terror, and Milly held her breath ¨C careful not to make a sound ¨C as the harpy dove lightning fast through the canopy. Her razor talons sliced clean through the biggest boar¡¯s thick neck, and she flew away with the headless carcass grasped in her claws. Milly waited until the surviving boar had settled and returned to their mudhole before she let the cocoon of air fade away and resumed traveling to the Waypoint Pillar. The combination of her improved perception and Detect Life made her hyperaware of everything around her, and with it came an elevated anxiousness that made Milly¡¯s chest feel tight. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the pillar remained unguarded. The only creature in sight was the capybara lying on the ground in a pool of blood, its skin partially peeled and a hole through its skull where Milly¡¯s ice had pierced it and since melted. ¡°Poor thing,¡± Milly whispered as she approached the pillar. The island was filled with herds of the adorable capybara. At sunset, they would gather in large groups on the beach to play in the ocean. Watching them had been a distraction from the sorrow that had threatened to overwhelm her each day. ¡°I¡¯m on my way, my love.¡± Milly said excitedly as she placed her hand on the pillar. Her excitement turned to ash.
Waypoint Pillar Location: Isle 38-2: The Isle of Experimental Hybrids #Error#: Waypoint pillar disconnected from primary God Contest waypoint network. This is a local network. Local Network Designation: The Archipelago Research Alliance (Project Rebirth) #Error# Local Network Connection Off-line. Restore at Research Station Omega
¡°What? No! No, no, no!¡± Milly cried, slamming her palm against the pillar as if it were the malfunctioning printer at the call center. ¡°Please no, I can¡¯t do this. I need to go home. I need to see my family! I need to be with Cally!¡± She collapsed to her knees beside the dead capybara, her forehead leaned against the pillar, as the elation of her victory soured, and sorrow took root once more. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the wall of bravery she had carefully crafted crumbled. She knelt there, frozen in place, her palm pressed to the pillar as the sun finished its daily journey and the stars of the night began to appear. It wasn¡¯t until her last tear had fallen and soaked into the jungle soil that she was able to pull herself together. That¡­ that¡¯s enough, Milly. You can¡¯t give up. It¡¯s just a setback. You have to keep pushing on. For Cally, and Passi and Rain. For yourself. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll die out here, as surely as this capybara. Think. Figure it out. Milly read the pillar¡¯s message again, digesting what information she could. The Isle of Experimental Hybrids. That would explain all the strange creatures I¡¯ve been seeing. If it¡¯s experimental, that means someone built it. This Archipelago Research Alliance? That must mean there are more islands out here. Perhaps these waypoints pillars are transport between the islands? That¡¯s not so bad, is it? At least you don¡¯t have to swim to another island. And there must be a central island. The main research station. If I can find that, maybe it will have a way to get home. The branches in the canopy above rustled, and Milly pulled her hand away to let the screen fade and douse the area in darkness. She saw the golden outline of a monkey high above as it swung between the trees. My improved perception and detect life talents don¡¯t do me much good if I¡¯m not paying attention. I need someone to keep watch. Her eyes fell upon the dead capybara, and her magic began to tingle at her fingertips. I should have taken a basic summoning skill, like that Carthage sister and her wolves, instead of that enhance performance one. I now can¡¯t even get home with this pillar to see Cally so I can use it! She sighed with regret and placed her hand on the capybara. Reanimate Rodent was a skill granted to her through her witch¡¯s hat. She¡¯d only used it twice ¨C on a rat when she¡¯d acquired it at the goblin camp, and at the Arena of Protection with Rain¡¯s muskrats. She¡¯d been so hesitant to use it ¨C she could feel the undead rodents in her mind. I¡¯ve changed so much since we first arrived in this world. I¡¯ve seen death and destruction, and I¡¯ve done more than my fair share of the killing. To still be afraid of an undead rodent? It just seems so¡­ small. So insignificant after everything that has happened. I chose the persona of the witch, and it¡¯s time I embraced magic beyond the elemental. Milly channeled her power into the capybara, and its dead eyes flittered open. She felt its playful spirit appear in the corner of her mind, a reflection of the animated creature it had been in life. The connection between them was stronger than with the muskrats. The muskrats had followed her command, but she sensed this creature would be able to act of its own accord, if only in the most basic ways. What would happen if I increased this talent to advanced level? Could an undead creature think for itself as its own entity? No one at the Castle of Glass has pursued necromancy magic but maybe it¡¯s not as scary as I thought it was. Or maybe¡­ maybe it¡¯ll be terrifying but under my control. ¡°Can you keep watch? Let me know if anything gets close, okay?¡± Milly asked the capybara. The capybara gave two short, twin clicks that rumbled off her tongue. Her eyes near the top of her head darted around tirelessly as she scanned the jungle for threats, communicating back what she saw through a complex series of quiet barks and whistles. Milly didn¡¯t need her to speak ¨C she could sense everything through their connection ¨C but it comforted her to hear something friendly. It made her feel like she wasn¡¯t utterly alone. Resolving to keep the capybara around for a while, if only for the company, she returned her attention to the Waypoint Pillar. I can activate this pillar at Research Station Omega. Those must be the ruins I saw on the mountain. It¡¯s the only manmade structure I¡¯ve seen. If I turn this pillar on, then I should be able to move between the islands. Her eyes shifted to the first error message.
#Error#: Waypoint pillar disconnected from God Contest waypoint network.
This pillar ¨C this island ¨C it just feels¡­ wrong. I mean, this whole fucking world feels wrong, but this is different. Why is it disconnected from the God Contest network? Am I in an Arena? Is it a challenge I haven¡¯t encountered before? Or¡­ The thought came to her like a lightning flash across the night sky. Or perhaps this place ¨C this archipelago ¨C wasn¡¯t intended to be part of the God Contest at all. An abandoned design? A lost fragment? Or something else entirely?
Local Network Designation: The Archipelago Research Alliance (Project Rebirth)
A shiver ran down Milly¡¯s spine. ¡®Project Rebirth¡¯ doesn¡¯t sound like an accident. I need to find out more. She stared up at the mountain, its peak barely visible against the night sky. Research Station Omega. I guess that¡¯s where I need to go. Back to square one. At least I know why I need to go there now. Milly rose to her feet and started to walk towards the beach. ¡°Let¡¯s set up camp for the night. I can get a little sleep before morning. Come on, um¡­ capybara. I guess you need a name¡­¡± The undead capybara looked up at her and replied with a series of short chirps. ¡°Coco? I¡­ I didn¡¯t realize you still had your memories,¡± Milly replied. ¡°The muskrats didn¡¯t. Gods, I hope they didn¡¯t. They got exploded.¡± Coco gave a worried bark. ¡°What? No, that was Rain¡¯s idea. I won¡¯t do that. I just need you to keep a watch and scout ahead.¡± The undead capybara chirped her thanks and began to plod along ahead of Milly. They made their way slowly to the beach, avoiding the beasts along the way. With each step, the foundations of Milly¡¯s resolve began to reform within her. I won¡¯t give up. I¡¯ll never give up. Cally. Passi. Rain. I¡¯ll find a way home. I promise. Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 36 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: Base: 40 Enhanced: 51 (+ 4 from Collar of the Victor, +7 from Obsidian Fists) Agility: Base: 26 Enhanced: 41 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 50 Enhanced: 54 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: Base: 68 Enhanced: 93 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (advanced), Earth (advanced), Water (advanced), Air (advanced) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (beginner), Healer¡¯s Aura (beginner) Psychic - Telekinesis (advanced) Necromancy ¨C Reanimate rodent (beginner) Spatial - Teleportation (advanced) Combat ¨C Hand-to-hand (advanced) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced), Detect Life (#error#) Sexual ¨C Enhance Performance (beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Talents: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Equipment Benefits: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists) Improved Perception (beginner, Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Chapter 102 - Millys Magical Escalator ¡°Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.¡± George Herbert, British Poet Coco trudged through the forest, carving a path through ferns and around the mudholes that darted the landscape. The capybara kept her gaze fixed on the approaching mountain, which rose high above the centre of the island. The rock was a faint shade of red and devoid of plant life, as if the stone itself were toxic to life that dared try to grow upon its surface. Following behind Coco, Milly kept her eyes attuned to the world around them, her Improved Perception and Detect Life talents working overtime to avoid the beasts that had grown more frequent the closer they got to the mountain. They¡¯d had to hide several times that morning from roaming packs of monsters, though the combination of her two talents gave them sufficient warning to avoid the fight. I¡¯m ten levels higher than I was yesterday, and I¡¯ve got more advanced magic now. I feel stronger than I ever have. Could I win if I had to fight? Milly watched as a pack of¡­ something¡­ charge by. The half-ostrich, half-husky creatures ¨C Milly¡¯s couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom how their anatomy worked ¨C sniffed the air as she and Coco hid in the ferns. Milly clenched her hands tightly, her Obsidian Fists at the ready. Coco gave her an anxious look that sent a clear message of ¡®are you fucking nuts? Put those away.¡¯ Milly relaxed and stayed hidden, and the pack moved on a short while later. Coco chirped her approval. ¡°I won¡¯t fight them unless I have to, Coco. I think I could take on single lizardman myself ¨C maybe ¨C but I don¡¯t want to risk it. But if I could¡­ how strong could I get?¡± Coco let out a quiet bark as they resumed their journey to the base of the mountain. ¡°What¡¯d you say? I can¡¯t get strong if I¡¯m dead. Well, you¡¯re dead, and I think my magic has made you a tiny bit stronger than you were in life,¡± countered Milly with a soft chuckle. Coco turned her neck to glare at Milly, her beady black eyes at the top of her head narrowed in disapproval. ¡°Was that insensitive?¡± Milly apologized. ¡°Sorry Coco. I¡¯m still trying to figure this all out.¡± Coco gave a short, pleasant chirp, as she accepted her apology. The undead capybara had grown in both intelligence and personality during the night, and with each hour that passed, Milly felt the magical bond between them strengthen. There was a cost to maintaining the bond ¨C about five percent of Milly¡¯s magic reserves ¨C but she decided it was worth the price, if only for the company. It took them the entire morning to make their way to the mountain as they cautiously picked their way through the jungle. They arrived just as the sun reached its zenith in the sky, and when Milly¡¯s foot finally touched the rocks at the base of the mountain, she couldn¡¯t help by let out quiet celebratory cheer. After more than a week ¨C after all those setbacks ¨C I made it. I finally made it! She gazed up the steep slope of the mountain, the ruins hidden in the clouds that covered the peak. The first hundred feet was a sheer climb straight up the cliff, with small ¨C seemingly man-made ¨C handholds that formed a path along its surface. Even with my enhancements, it will take hours to climb this mountain. I swear, if this turns out to be a wild goose chase¡­ Well, no sense in waiting around for another monster to find me. Time to get moving. Milly grasped the first handhold, and Coco let out a tiny, desperate bark. ¡°I know, Coco. I haven¡¯t forgotten about you. But you can¡¯t climb with me. Maybe I could put you in my inventory?¡± Coco recoiled in horror and protested with a quick chirp. ¡°Maybe I could carry you with my telekinesis? I would be expensive, but it might work.¡± Coco¡¯s little bark told Milly that option was slightly more acceptable, though only slightly. It lacked the dignity required of a capybara. Milly chuckled at the notion. ¡°Yah, and you¡¯d been a sitting duck for any fliers that saw us. Well, what do you want me to do? It¡¯s not like there¡¯s an escalator going up this mountain that we can¡­¡± Milly¡¯s gaze fell to the rock at her feet, and she laughed as an idea popped into her head. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to do this yesterday, but with my new suite of advanced magics, it might just work. Beckoning Coco to her side, she carved out ten-foot by ten-foot stone slab of earth and lifted it against the side of the mountain. She channeled a combination of earth and water to seal it there, creating a mobile platform that she could direct with her magic. She lifted Coco onto it with her telekinesis and climbed on board. ¡°Well Coco, let¡¯s see if this works,¡± Milly said hopefully as she channeled her earth and telekinesis magic into the slab. The stone slab shook, as if it a gear were clicking into place, and it began to move up the mountain¡¯s slope.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Milly laughed with delight as they began to ascend. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that combination worked. Milly¡¯s Magical Escalator! Why climb when you can ride!¡± This advanced magic is on a whole new level. I¡¯d never have been able to do this yesterday. Reaching advanced level has opened up a whole new world of possibilities, including combining magics together with my Weaver class talent. And if this is the power of advanced magic, what happens when I reach a level beyond advanced? Advanced magic became available when I reached level twenty. I wonder when the next level can be selected? Milly opened her talent web and scrolled to the elemental talents. The talents above advanced level was greyed out ¨C unavailable to her until she met the prerequisites ¨C though she could see what prerequisites were required. She focused on earth magic.
Earth Magic (Master) Prerequisites:
  • Earth Magic (advanced)
  • Level 40
  • Base Magic Attribute: 75
I¡¯m level thirty-six right now, with a base magic of sixty-eight. If I put every point I earn into magic until I hit level forty¡­ I could do it. But the only way to level up is to fight. Maybe it¡¯s a risk I should take. Coco headbutted Milly¡¯s thigh ¨C a not-so-subtle reminder that they were currently ascending the highest point in the jungle in a manner that was anything but discrete. Milly scratched the capybara behind the ears to show her thanks, careful to avoid the icicle-shaped hole that had ended her life. She surveyed the injury, along with the torn flesh on Coco¡¯s back caused by the lizardmen¡¯s tormenting. I wonder if there¡¯s a skill to patch her up. An undead version of healer¡¯s touch perhaps? She doesn¡¯t seem to mind the damage, but it weakens her and makes her vulnerable. Coco plopped down on the slab, enjoying the scritches and staring out as the jungle grew smaller and smaller below them. Milly sat beside the capybara, her knees hugged to her chest, and tried to enjoy the view as they rose higher and higher. As I thought. This island is almost perfectly circular. That¡¯s where I washed up on shore, and that¡¯s where I set up camp the first night. There¡¯s the cliff I dropped on those lizardman, which means the Waypoint Pillar is just below that. There aren¡¯t any other islands on the horizon yet, but maybe I¡¯ll be able to spot one as we get higher. If these ruins don¡¯t have anything to help me, I might need to make it to another island on my own. I just need to know which way to go. The canopy below rustled as a herd of hybrids charged their way through the jungle. With her improved perception, Milly could hear their symphony of grunts and squeals as the pack communicated with one another. Experimental hybrids. Research Station Omega. What the hell have I gotten myself into? I wish Cally and Rain were here with me. I hope they are safe. Passi¡­ I¡¯ll get home to you. I promise. I won¡¯t let you grow up in this world all alone. The slab beneath them crunched loudly as it continued along the path, sounding like an avalanche happening in reverse. Milly spent a few moments fine-tuning her magic to make it quieter. She wasn¡¯t entirely successful, but a delicate weave of water and air at the platform¡¯s base managed to deaden the noise so it wouldn¡¯t reverberate across the entire island. ¡°There¡¯s probably an easier way to silence it than that combination,¡± Milly muttered, as she scratched behind Coco¡¯s ear. Unbidden, the talent web popped up and scrolled over to a web called ¡®Auditory Magic¡¯ ¨C one of the advanced magics with air magic as a prerequisite. It focused on magic such as sound illusions, percussive blasts, and silent steps. A must-have, according to the description, for spies, thieves, and assassins. ¡°Of course that¡¯s a thing,¡± Milly chuckled, dismissing the player screen. She wondered if the talent web responses to her contemplations were pre-programmed, or if they were the result of Luna or one of the Tutorias operating it behind the scenes. She suspected it was pre-programmed, if only because the notion of the Tutorias having access to her inner thoughts sent waves of dread down her spine. The thought reminded her of the last time she had seen Luna, the game¡¯s AI Director, whom she had accidentally stumbled upon during the first Arena. Luna was as much a six-year-old child as she was the AI Director. An artificial entity of dueling personalities, created by Oracle and imprisoned at the heart of the contest. She¡¯s as much a prisoner here as we are. A lonely little girl, with the weight of the world on her shoulders. And the longer the contest goes on, the more she will struggle to contain it all in her mind. Eventually, it will drive her insane. Oracle knew this, but in her desperation, she still imbedded Luna at the center of the game. The thought made Milly shiver. She had come to care for Luna, in much the same way she had grown to love Passi. Despite the horrible purpose she¡¯d been assigned to carry out, Milly wanted her to be safe. But she isn¡¯t safe, is she? Oracle had a second purpose behind creating an autonomous AI. She suspected there was a puppet master ¨C someone, or something ¨C working to defeat the contest from within. As long as there is no victor in the God Contests, the madness will continue to kill the gods. But who would want such a thing? That was Luna¡¯s job ¨C to figure out the identity of this being and put a stop to it. And she recruited me to help. It¡¯s why she gave me my sub-class ¨C Her Inquisitor. Milly hadn¡¯t yet discovered the identity of the puppet master, though she had her suspicions. In Hephaestus¡¯ memory orb, she¡¯d learned of the secret third designer of the God Contest ¨C Cizen, the Mayan God of Death. The same God that now whispered in Xavier¡¯s ear ¨C who fed into Xavier¡¯s addictive, power hungry behavior. I don¡¯t know if Cizen is the puppet master, but the memory orb showed me that he¡¯s no fan of Luna. I need to warn Luna about him. I didn¡¯t get a chance the last time I saw her. We were interrupted by the dragon attack on the Castle of Glass. If I can find a system backdoor, I can get back to her, but if there¡¯s one on this island, I haven¡¯t been able to find it. I¡­ A tiny, almost imperceptible flash of light appeared in the east at the periphery of Milly¡¯s vision, interrupting her contemplations. It was traveling fast and headed straight for them. ¡°Shit, Coco, I think we have company,¡± Milly said, scrambling to her feet as she caught a glimpse of the creature. It was a harpy ¨C the truck-sized creature with the body of an eagle and the face of a woman that she had seen slice a boar¡¯s head from its body with a single swipe of its powerful talons. There was no place to hide. They were halfway up the mountainside now, its slopes treacherous and barren. For a second, Milly contemplated carving out a cavern in the mountain so they could hide, but as she pressed her hand against the mountain¡¯s surface, she could feel the toxins flowing within. Coco might be fine, but I don¡¯t know how it would affect me. I don¡¯t think that research station was built on this mountain by accident. Perhaps the toxins have something to do with the hybrids. Either way, unless I want to grow a second head, that¡¯s not an option. A shrill cry screeched across the sky as the harpy soared towards them, faster than Milly had expected. Each powerful flap of its giant wings rattled the canopy far below and closed the distance quickly. Coco cowered behind Milly¡¯s legs, and Milly felt the power of Salem¡¯s Fury activate within her ¨C violent fire shining in her eyes. Salem¡¯s Fury works if I¡¯m protecting Coco? Well, that changes things. Milly¡¯s hands flared with twin balls of deep blue fire as she created a whirlwind of air around the still-rising platform, Salem¡¯s Fury elevating her magical power. ¡°Coco, you stay put and keep out of the way, okay?¡± She stared the harpy in the eye as it dove towards them, its talons extended for the kill. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± Chapter 103 - The Flow of Magic ¡°I¡¯m always trying to show versatility. I¡¯m juggling, and I¡¯m flipping fire, and I¡¯m chewing gum and rhyming at the same time¡­ on a unicycle, while playing the drums.¡± MF Doom, English Musician Milly hurled her twin bolts of blue fire straight for the harpy¡¯s eyes. The flames scorched with angry energy as they tore through the air towards their target. The harpy saw the attack coming and could easily dodge the blasts given the distance and its speed. Milly expected this. The moment the twin bolts left her palms, she began to weave together fire and air into a lightning strike. She waited patiently as her fire streaked towards the harpy. Right or left? Come on, show me which direction you¡¯ll dodge. Unblinking eyes focused intently on her enemy, Milly held her attack until she detected a faint trace of the beast¡¯s intentions ¨C an almost imperceptible dip of the harpy¡¯s left wing only detectable with the benefits of Improved Perception. Milly released her lightning towards the air on the harpy¡¯s left side. The power that cascaded across the sky was not that of a single bolt, but of the whole storm. Seven distinct lightning strikes arched towards the beast ¨C the crack of their explosive energy reverberating across the mountainside. Preoccupied with dodging the fire, the harpy didn¡¯t see the attack until it was too late. It flew straight into the blast. Four lightning strikes tore into its wings and chest, the remainder arcing beyond their battleground and lighting up the afternoon sky. The harpy squawked in outrage as its flesh sizzled. ¡°Stay here Coco,¡± Milly ordered, and before the capybara had time to protest, Milly leapt from the platform and propelled herself towards the harpy with air channeled beneath her feet. She had tried this once before, when she had leapt atop the dragon, but this time her advanced air magic gave her greater control over her ascent. She was able to delicately maneuver in mid-air with tiny blasts and keep herself aloft with larger ones. It wasn¡¯t true flight ¨C not yet ¨C but it allowed her to soar through the air like a multistage rocket. My lightning hurt the beast ¨C I can smell its scorched feathers and flesh ¨C but this battle isn¡¯t over yet, and I can¡¯t fight from that tiny platform while it controls the skies. It leaves me too exposed and limits my options. Makes me too predictable. Plus, it¡¯s used to hunting prey on the ground, so I¡¯ll bring the fight to its domain. Milly channeled her water magic to freeze the air around the harpy, causing frost and shards of ice to form across its wings. It slowed the creature just enough for Milly to launch herself over its head with another blast of air at her feet, giving her a clear view of its back. Now, let¡¯s see what this advanced fire can really do. Extending both palms towards the monster, Milly called upon her fire. She didn¡¯t bother to shape it into bolts or fireballs. She released it as a single scorching wave that rolled through the air and blanketed the harpy in an inferno ¨C an airborne flamethrower that boiled the world around them. The outraged cry of the harpy cut through the roar of the flames as its feathers burned. Milly felt sweat bead her brow as she struggled to hold the fire steady while trying to control the speed of her gravity-driven descent. This should do it. Just a few more¡­ shit! The harpy flew straight through the flames, its talons aimed straight for Milly¡¯s neck. Half of its feathers were seared down to their quills, but that hadn¡¯t been enough to stop it ¨C only slow it down. Milly cursed as she ended her flames and tried to dodge, blasting herself away from its grasp. The harpy missed her neck by inches, but its trailing talon raked across Milly¡¯s back from shoulder to thigh, slicing through her gown and digging a half-inch trench through her skin and into muscle and fat. She screamed in agony as she plummeted towards the mountainside below, already channeling Healer¡¯s Touch towards the wound to stem the bleeding. A last-second blast of air served to slow her descent towards the ground, but the harpy had already rounded and was now diving towards her, its talons outstretched for the kill. Time to get creative, Milly. Combine an old and new trick. Here we go. Milly waited until the last moment ¨C until the harpy¡¯s claws and the oncoming mountainside were a heartbeat away. She didn¡¯t want to give the harpy time to counter what she wanted to do. She channeled two magics, one after the other. Using earth, she manipulated the surface of the mountain to create dozens of giant narrow spikes that rose up towards both the player and the harpy. Milly knew how to create these ¨C she¡¯d used the same technique to kill the lizardman ¨C though her advanced magic allowed her to generate them in a second instead of a minute. The harpy saw the spikes forming and flapped its wings hard to slow its momentum, but it was already too late. Milly hadn¡¯t left it any time to react. At the last possible moment, Milly, for the first time, activated her teleportation magic. Her remaining magic reserves plummeted as it took effect. She vanished in an instant and reappeared fifty feet above the harpy, her stomach churning from the sudden lurch, as the harpy careened straight into the spikes. A terrible squawk erupted from the creature as it was impaled through its wings and chest, splayed out on the rocks like a pinned insect in a museum collection. It struggled to break free as it bled out on the mountainside. A warning chirp from Coco echoed in Milly¡¯s mind as she fought to stabilize herself in mid-air. ¡°I know, Coco,¡± Milly gasped, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her back. ¡°The system didn¡¯t give me the victory notification. I still need to finish it.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Extending her palms towards the now helpless harpy, Milly called forth lightning, fire, and earth as she bombarded the creature with volley after volley until it no longer moved. The harpy sagged, and the notification finally appeared.
Congratulations! You have defeated Talon Strike Harpy x 1. You have been awarded 100,000 experience points. You have leveled up twice and received four attribute points and a class talent point. Items Received: Harpy feather x 5, Harpy talon x 2 Gold: 15,400
Milly breathed a sigh of relief as she maneuvered herself back to the platform and landed with a hard thud. Coco snuggled up beside her, concerned. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m alright, Coco,¡± Milly assured her, sitting down to catch her breath. Coco pressed her nose gently against the cut across Milly¡¯s back, and Milly hissed with pain. ¡°Okay, fine. You¡¯ve made your point. I¡¯m not okay,¡± she admitted. ¡°Can you keep a lookout while I fix this?¡± Coco chirped her agreement and began to patrol the platform, her beady eyes scanning the skies for more predators. Not that I¡¯d be able to do anything about it if there are more of these things. I¡¯ve got enough magic to heal this cut and get us to the top of the mountain, but after that I¡¯ll be running on fumes. Milly activated Healer¡¯s Aura. She could sense her regeneration, accelerated by the aura, already starting to slowly heal the wound and soak away the ache in her muscles. With the aura active, her passive ability could heal the injury in two days, but Milly didn¡¯t have that kind of time. She scolded herself, regretting her decision to advance her hand-to-hand combat talent instead of regeneration. I didn¡¯t punch the damn thing once. I should have finished it off with my fists. I could have absorbed some magic from it. Coco glanced up at Milly and gave her a short, supportive bark. ¡°Yah, I know. I¡¯m being too hard on myself. It¡¯s tough not to be, when every mistake could get me gutted like a boar.¡± Coco sighed and returned to staring at the sky. Milly chuckled weakly. She closed her eyes and reached out for Healer¡¯s Touch, directing it to her back. She didn¡¯t have to physically touch the wound anymore ¨C not with the advanced magic, though it was more effective if she did. Now, while I heal, I need to level up. I only received two levels for defeating the harpy, despite it giving me as much experience as a lizardman. Which means the amount of experience I need to level up is increasing pretty quickly. My rapid advancement on this island might not last for much longer. She remembered how little experience the goblins around the tower provided her after their foray to the Arena of Protection. On that first day ¨C when Xavier and I headed out into the wilds ¨C all I had to do was kill a single goblin to get me to level two. Now? I have to fly around like a rocket and take down a massive bird monster with fire and lightning and god damn teleportation tricks. Pretty soon, I¡¯ll need to fight a whole flock of them just to earn one level. She sighed and resigned herself to that inevitability. At least I know I can take out one of them now. Opening her player screen, she quickly dumped her four attribute points into magic, which also slightly replenished her depleted magic reserves. It didn¡¯t take long for her to decide where to spend her talent point. Coco had proven useful as a lookout, and Milly found herself enjoying the capybara¡¯s company. Time to embrace the witch, right? Besides, I¡¯m sure Passi would like a pet. Even an undead one. She selected the Reanimate Beast (beginner) talent from the necromancy web, which, in turn, elevated her Reanimate Rodent talent to advanced. She felt the amount of magic she needed to sustain Coco decrease, and their bond strengthen. Reanimate Rodent must be a subset of Reanimate Beast talent, which means the beast talent is more versatile than what my witch¡¯s hat grants me. I wonder if¡­ Milly glanced towards the dead harpy but knew she was out of luck. The beast was far beyond the level allowed to be reanimated by a beginner level magic talent. Milly had a strong suspicion it would even be out of range of the advanced level. That okay. I didn¡¯t take the talent for the harpy. ¡°Coco, shuffle over here, will you?¡± Milly called. The capybara ambled over and plopped down in front of Milly, her eyes still fixed on the sky. Milly laid her hands on the capybara¡¯s back. My advanced reanimate rodent skill didn¡¯t grant me the ability to heal Coco. Not exactly. But it does allow me to redistribute Coco¡¯s flesh to repair external damage. I can break down her unused organs ¨C heart, lungs, and stomach ¨C and use them to close the wounds in her back and head. It means Coco can only be healed so many times before she¡¯ll fell apart, so we¡¯ll have to be careful. Hopefully, the master level magic will have a solution for that. ¡°Are you okay with this? I mean, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re using your organs anymore,¡± Milly asked the capybara. Coco responded with a sad little huff, and Milly scratched behind her ears and got to work. By the time her own wound had healed, Milly had repaired much of the damage the capybara had sustained from the lizardmen¡¯s torment. All that remained was some faint scar tissue on her back and head where the wounds had once been. ¡°I guess we have that in common,¡± Milly sighed, tracing her fingers across the new scar tissue on her back where the harpy¡¯s talon had sliced her open. The cut had been deep, and she¡¯d known her Scarred Witch class wouldn¡¯t let her fully heal from this one. Still, it would be another constant reminder of the horrors of this world. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here before we have another unwelcome guest.¡± Milly channeled her magic into the stone platform, and they resumed their ascent towards the ruins.
Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 38 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: Base: 40 Enhanced: 51 (+ 4 from Collar of the Victor, +7 from Obsidian Fists) Agility: Base: 26 Enhanced: 41 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars) Toughness: Base: 50 Enhanced: 54 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: Base: 72 Enhanced: 97 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (advanced), Earth (advanced), Water (advanced), Air (advanced) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (beginner), Healer¡¯s Aura (beginner) Psychic - Telekinesis (advanced) Necromancy ¨C Reanimate beast (beginner), Reanimate rodent (advanced) Spatial - Teleportation (advanced) Combat ¨C Hand-to-hand (advanced) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced), Detect Life (#error#) Sexual ¨C Enhance Performance (beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Talents: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Equipment Benefits: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists) Improved Perception (beginner, Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)
Chapter 104 - Research Station Omega ¡°We have it in our power to begin the world over again.¡± Thomas Paine, Founding Father Milly gave a hefty sigh of relief when they entered the clouds that billowed around the mountain¡¯s peak, sheltering them from curious, predatory eyes in the sky. We should be safe now, assuming there aren¡¯t any cloud monsters or dragons that live atop the mountain. Which¡­ is practically a certainty in this world. Shit. ¡°Coco, stay alert,¡± Milly cautioned, her senses on high alert. She extended her hand into the clouds and channeled a tiny amount of water magic into it to fashion tiny crystals within, trying to sense any movement. She didn¡¯t sense any, though she didn¡¯t drop her guard. Five minutes later, their platform carried them beyond the clouds, and Milly gazed upon the mountain¡¯s peak. ¡°Not a mountain,¡± Milly whispered in awe. ¡°A volcano.¡± The very tip of the mountain had been blown off long ago, leaving behind a deep crater surrounded by steep slopes. Tiny puffs of smoke rose from its surface ¨C the volcano active yet apparently stable. It wasn¡¯t just the crater that took her breath away. The entire perimeter of the crater was lined with a massive, interconnected village of two-story buildings. A network of bronze pipes ¨C like those found in a sewage treatment plant ¨C descended from two dozen different buildings into the crater, dormant but intact. It¡¯s not just the pipes that are intact. Everything is so well preserved. There are no collapsed buildings or fractured streets. Just a layer of volcanic ash covering every surface. It¡¯s breathtaking. The structures were built from brilliant white stone, with circular windows facing the ocean beyond the mountain to catch the pleasant breeze that floated its way up the slopes. Between each of the buildings were large courtyards filled with delicately carved fountains, ornamental statues, and long-dead gardens. Marble paths linked each of the buildings to each other in a complex that, Milly estimated, would have housed more than five hundred people if it were occupied. Atop the largest building ¨C the one their platform was now grinding to a halt beside ¨C rested a large metal container that looked like a water tower. Six brass pipes fed into its centre, funneling its contents into the volcano ¨C or, perhaps, drawing the volcano¡¯s contents into it. I saw that tower from the beach ¨C that sparkle in the sunlight. What is this place? It wasn¡¯t only the metal that caught her attention. An almost imperceptible stream of golden threads descended from the sky ¨C far beyond even her enhanced sight ¨C towards the roof of the building. The color of the threads had the same hue as the halo of light she saw with her Detect Life talent. Other than the threads, there was not a single sign of life on the mountain. A river of life, flowing into a graveyard. Milly lifted Coco off the platform as it ground to a halt beside a soot-covered marble pathway. Coco sneezed from the dust. ¡°Do you even still breath?¡± Milly laughed. ¡°You don¡¯t have any lungs anymore. How do you even do that?¡± Coco tilted her head, and Milly caught a very clear impression of ¡®you tell me, it¡¯s your magic.¡¯ ¡°Fair enough. Come on, let¡¯s explore. There must be something here that can help us. The gods wouldn¡¯t have designed this place without a purpose.¡± That is, if Hephaestus designed this place. Every step I take feels more and more disconnected from what I believed the wilds of the God Contest to be. Milly strode through the courtyard, admiring the intricate statues and the black marble fountain that would have been gorgeous when operational. She knelt by one of the largest statues ¨C perfectly preserved even after countless years ¨C and examined it. Milly would have thought its subject to be human, but his exaggerated features and height gave him an intense, almost surreal beauty. Bright orange topazes, carefully carved into brilliant eyes, stared out at the dead world beyond. She brushed the soot off the statue¡¯s plaque, but it was written in a language she couldn¡¯t understand. A language composed as much of hieroglyphics as it was letters. A player screen suddenly popped up in front of her.
Language Detected Species of Origin: Orianes Warning: This language was not included in the Thirteenth God Contest protocols. Players have been restricted from accessing this language.
¡°What the hell?¡± Milly whispered. ¡°First the Waypoint Pillar wasn¡¯t connected to the main network, and now I¡¯m not allowed access this place¡¯s language? What is going on¡­¡± Milly¡¯s Spectacles of Hidden Design abruptly flashed, and a second screen appeared, overlayed upon the first.
Oriane recognized. Override Accepted. Commencing translation protocol.
Milly¡¯s head exploded in agony as an entire new language downloaded itself into her head. She collapsed to the ground, hands grasping the side of her head until the pain subsided. ¡°Fuck¡­,¡± Milly moaned. She felt like she¡¯d been hit with the world¡¯s worst migraine ¨C far worse than when the game downloaded a talent into her head. Because I¡¯m supposed to have those talents. I¡¯m not meant to have this language, so it¡¯s like trying to shove a round peg in a square hole. What the hell is going on here? This can¡¯t just be another Arena. This is something else. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Milly blinked away the pain and gazed at the plaque, now able to read it. At least it didn¡¯t break my brain. Or¡­ probably didn¡¯t. I guess I wouldn¡¯t really know. ¡°Administrator Bestian, 18th leader of Research Station Omega and Founder of Hybrid Research. Oh, this is the guy I have to thank for the harpies and the lizardmen. Wonderful.¡± Coco nudged Milly in the butt and gazed up at the topazes in the statues¡¯ eyes. ¡°What? No, I¡¯m not going to steal them.¡± Coco chirped in disappointment. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to reconsider bringing you back to Passi,¡± laughed Milly, glad for the distraction. ¡°She¡¯s a young, impressionable girl, you know. You might be a bad influence on her.¡± Coco huffed as they walked towards the main building. Milly brushed off another sign embedded into the stone at the side of the entrance. ¡°Research Station Omega. Isle of Experimental Hybrids. Archipelago Research Alliance. It¡¯s the same location depicted on the Waypoint Pillar, so we¡¯re in the right place. At least we didn¡¯t climb that mountain for nothing. No mention of this ¡®Project Rebirth¡¯ though.¡± Coco nudged the decayed wooden door, and it collapsed into a pile of fragments. She dashed behind Milly¡¯s legs in alarm, until the dust finally settled. ¡°Come on, scaredy cat. We¡¯re not going to find what we need out here. Just¡­ watch your step.¡± Milly strode inside, Coco at her heels. The interior of the ruin resembled the outside ¨C white stone with marble floors. It was an open concept design, with spiral staircases that weaved between the two levels. Marble-carved workstations scatted the floor, some with ancient glass beakers and scales still placed on their surface. The walls were lined with rooms ¨C not offices as Milly had first suspected, but isolated workstations that could be sealed off from the rest of the complex. Bookshelves and cabinets were interspersed across the complex in a seemingly random pattern that escaped Milly¡¯s comprehension. The whole room was crisscrossed with a network of copper pipes, their design similar to the ones that led into the volcano though far narrower in diameter. Each had a tap that would dispense whatever the pipes were carrying to the Oriane at the workstation. ¡°It¡¯s not just a research station. It¡¯s a laboratory,¡± Milly breathed as she took in her surroundings. Milly¡¯s eyes fell upon the centre of the complex. There, resting on the largest workstation, was a black orb the size of a basketball, its surface untouched by the layer of volcanic ash that covered everything else. The fine golden threads that descended from the sky above weaved their way through the stone ceiling and coalesced at the orb, where they were absorbed into its mass. Except for its color, the orb was a mirror copy of Hephaestus¡¯ two memory orbs that Milly, Rain, and Calista had found in their journeys. ¡°Wait outside, Coco,¡± Milly said cautiously, remembering her first encounter with the damaged memory orb. ¡°I¡¯m going to get us some answers.¡± She walked carefully across the complex, leaving behind a set of perfect footprints in the ash. Approaching the nearest workbench, Milly channeled a tiny, targeted whirlwind that siphoned up the thick layer of volcanic ash on its surface and deposited it neatly into a pile on the floor. She chuckled to herself. I¡¯m never cleaning the normal way again. This God Contest world has its perks. Milly leaned over the bench, her face pressed to the surface, as she took in the fine details under the dust. It¡¯s flawless. No nicks. No cuts. That glass vial by the sink is completely untouched. This workbench hasn¡¯t seen a day of use in its life. Milly gazed around the complex. It was similarly untouched ¨C a magnificent, empty village swallowed by time. I thought this complex would feel abandoned. But that¡¯s not what I sense at all. This place isn¡¯t a graveyard. It¡¯s not even a ruin. It feels¡­ empty. Like a newly constructed home that no one moved into. But who was it intended for, and for what purpose? In the centre of the room, the black orb pulsed with energy as it absorbed the golden river of life, its outer surface swirling with dark colors, like oil on the surface of a pond. Only one way to find out. Cautiously, Milly approached the orb and pressed her palm against its surface.
¡­ Rebirth protocol activated¡­ ¡­ Research Station Omega¡­ population: 506 ¡­ Warning: Life Battery at 4% charge¡­ ¡­ Time to full charge: 2 years, 1 month, 4 days ¡­ Population reconstitution limited¡­ ¡­ Prioritization complete¡­ ¡­ Commencing protocol¡­
Before Milly could draw her hand away, the world around her filled with a brilliant golden light, and she shut her eyes in alarm. Blindly, she stumbled behind the nearest workbench as the complex began to change around her. She ran her fingers blindly along the floor and felt its smooth marble surface ¨C no longer coated with the gritty ash of the volcano. The air became alive with a brilliant floral scent, like that of Rain¡¯s workshop as she brewed her potions. She heard the sound of rhythmic footsteps, and the clink of glassware as the laboratory came to life. A myriad of distinct voices, speaking the language of the Orianes, began to fill the once-empty complex. ¡°Burath, can you hand me that solution?¡± ¡°The vector hybrid isn¡¯t stable. We¡¯re going to need to try another breed.¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± ¡°Administrator, we¡¯re running low on refined compound. We¡¯ll need the refinery team to work overtime tonight.¡± Milly opened her eyes as the brilliant light began to fade. The layer of volcanic ash had disappeared, leaving behind a complex in pristine state. Every surface sparkled as if it had been built yesterday. Glassware were filled with multi-color liquids ¨C the source of the floral scents ¨C and a gentle breeze wafted in from the open windows. A dozen of Orianes were scattered about the complex, moving between the workstations in a flurry of activity. The air filled with the laugher of passionate people fully emerged in life¡¯s ambition and the thrill of experimentation. Milly couldn¡¯t help but stare at the images of the Orianes. As human as they seemed on the surface, there was far greater variation in their appearances than existed with humans. A ten-foot-tall giant ¨C an incredibly muscular man with bright red hair and a long, pointed nose ¨C carried three boxes of glassware under the direction of a three-foot-tall slender woman with silky green hair that nearly touched the floor. The woman tapped his knee ¨C three times larger than her hand ¨C and directed him towards the exit at the back of the complex. At a nearby workstation, a man with gorgeous blue locks, wearing in thick goggles and a lead apron, knelt over a beaker, eyedropper in hand, as he finished his concoction. He coughed as a plume of smoke began to waft from the mixture, which turned into a full-on panic as the liquid caught fire. This projection¡­ it¡¯s so much more¡­ intense¡­ than the ones from Hephaestus¡¯ memory orbs. It¡¯s like it¡¯s replaying an entire moment in time for the whole village, captured in exquisite detail. Milly watched with rapt attention as the scene played out before her. ¡°Hydel, that¡¯s the fifth time this week,¡± called a man from the entrance way ¨C the same man whose image was carved in the statue in the courtyard. Administrator Bestian. This could be his memory. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Administrator,¡± came Hydel¡¯s apologetic response over the laugher to his colleagues. ¡°This combination seems to destabilize the compound with¡­ unusually flammable side-effects.¡± ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be cleaning the volcanic dust off the walls for a week if you do it again,¡± warned Bestian, though the chuckle in his words undermined the threat. From the courtyard behind the administrator came the excited laughter of a young child. ¡°Dad! Dad! One of the hybrids has escaped,¡± the girl said with mischievous delight. ¡°It¡¯s so cute! Can we keep it? What happened to its head?¡± Administrator Bestian turned towards the entrance, puzzled, as a woman poked her head through the door in a huff. ¡°Administrator, you need to see this. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s one of ours,¡± the woman cautioned. ¡°I don¡¯t know how it got up here and¡­ Enzel! Don¡¯t try to ride it ¨C it might bite. Enzel! Administrator, control your daughter.¡± The administrator rolled his eyes and reluctantly stepped into the courtyard. A hybrid? Wait¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­ ¡°Excuse me, miss!¡± A gentle hand tugged the sleeve of Milly¡¯s gown, and Milly turned in surprise to see a short Oriane with peppered white hair and beady eyes staring directly at her. ¡°Miss, you aren¡¯t allowed to be in here. Who are you?¡± Chapter 105 - Stranger in a Strange Land ¡°We are all strangers in a strange land, longing for home, but not quite knowing what or where home is.¡± Madeleine L¡¯Engle, American Writer ¡°I¡­ what¡­?¡± stammered Milly as she stared at the Oriane with the peppered white hair. The other Orianes turned towards her, and their laughter became tense silence. A glass shattered against the marble tiles as it fell from Hydel¡¯s hand, its liquid spilling across the floor. The liquid touched Milly¡¯s shoe, and she tapped her foot against it, watching the ripples in the tiny puddle. I can interact with the projections? They can interact with me? Wait, that light¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­ Milly knelt in front of the peppered hair woman and stared at her chest intently. ¡°Miss¡­ Miss, this is highly inappropriate,¡± the woman protested, folding her arms across her chest. She tried to back away, but Milly grabbed the woman¡¯s arm and held her fast. Her skin was silky smooth, and her wrist narrow and fragile. The woman tried to pull away but couldn¡¯t break free of Milly¡¯s strength. ¡°Let me go! Please, Miss.¡± Milly didn¡¯t notice the woman¡¯s reaction or hear her protests. Her eyes were fixed on the tiny, almost imperceptible golden thread that connected the woman¡¯s heart with the black orb. The thread pulsed gently as energy flowed from the orb into the woman, giving her physical form. No, it¡¯s more than just granting physical form. It¡¯s injecting her with life energy! Transforming a projection into a living being. She¡¯s still weak, and it could be months before she could live independent of the orb. But, if the process continues uninterrupted, these projections ¨C these memories ¨C will become truly alive. Milly¡¯s eyes shifted to the black orb, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. But who built the orb, and where is it siphoning the life-giving energy from? And why give life to these people in particular? Project Rebirth¡­ what is going on here? A massive muscular hand came to rest on Milly¡¯s shoulder. She glanced up to see the ten-foot-tall Oriane staring down at her, a menacing look upon his face. It drew Milly from her internal contemplations, and she finally noticed her tight grip on the woman¡¯s wrist. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Milly stammered apologetically, releasing the woman¡¯s wrist. The woman held her wrist tightly and quickly backed away. ¡°I just¡­ I didn¡¯t know you were¡­¡± Alive? I suppose they are, though each of them are literally connected to life support. Milly rose to her feet. The giant man pressed down on her shoulder, trying to keep her on her knees, but Milly¡¯s strength overwhelmed him. It was like a small child trying to hold back a bodybuilder, only Milly was the bodybuilder. ¡°Are you hurt, Geta?¡± the giant man asked the peppered hair woman with affection. He was trying to hide his shock at Milly¡¯ strength, but Milly could see it in his eyes. He wasn¡¯t used to being the weak one. ¡°I¡­ no, I¡¯ll be alright, Apoi. Just a little sore,¡± Geta replied, her eyes fixed warily on the stranger in the midst. ¡°Hydel, go get the Administrator. He¡­¡± A crash emerged from the courtyard entrance as Coco burst into the complex, a small child clinging to her back as if Coco were a horse. The child ¨C Enzel, Milly surmised ¨C was laughing with maniacal joy as she held onto Coco¡¯s ears tightly and enjoyed the ride. Coco, on the other hand, released a series of upset barks and whistles as she bolted straight for Milly, knocking over glassware and anything else along her path. ¡°Coco, calm down. She¡¯s just a child,¡± Milly soothed, as the scared capybara barreled straight into Milly¡¯s arms. She patted the capybara¡¯s barrel chest to calm her. ¡°There, there. You¡¯re safe now, silly thing.¡± ¡°Enzel, get away from that creature,¡± came a bellow from the courtyard. Administrator Bestian strode into the complex, his face the measure of calm authority, though Milly saw a mix of both concern and curiosity in his bright orange eyes. ¡°And I need everyone to take a breath and calm down.¡± The complex grew quiet, though Milly heard secretive whispers not meant for her ears. ¡°She overpowered Apoi like he wasn¡¯t even there.¡± ¡°Is she the one we¡¯ve been waiting for? The biochemist from Core Station?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? She¡¯s¡­ malformed. Her eyes¡­ and her face¡­ they¡¯re out of proportion.¡± ¡°Her eyes are so¡­ dull. Is she sick?¡± ¡°Fascinating¡­¡± The last whisper came from Hydel, who moved away from his workstation and was now inspecting Milly as if she were a prized farm animal. Milly gently pried Enzel¡¯s grip from off Coco¡¯s ears and gingerly lifted her to the ground. The child pouted, the only one unperturbed by Milly¡¯s appearance. Administrator Bestian strolled over to Milly, avoiding the shattered glass left in Coco¡¯s wake. He frowned when he saw the spilled liquid on the floor and gave Hydel a disappointed gaze. Hydel weakly coughed and left to grab a rag.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The man was a hair shorter than Apoi and had the lean appearance of a man who regularly forgot to eat because he was engrossed in his work. Bestian glanced down at Coco, and Coco backpedaled until she stood at Milly¡¯s side. She gave a tiny warning bark, which came across as adorable more than threatening. The man chuckled at the protective display. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t allow animals in this part of the station, miss¡­?¡± Bestian let the question hang there, expecting the silence to be filled with an answer. ¡°Ummm¡­ Milly,¡± Milly answered, still trying to puzzle everything out. Whatever it happening, these Orianes don¡¯t seem to be aware of it. They probably think I just appeared out of nowhere during their perfectly normal afternoon, rather than the other way around. ¡°Well, Milly. Why don¡¯t you and I head out to the courtyard? Where your creature can relax, and we can be away from¡­ prying eyes. You can explain to me how you found yourself in the middle of our laboratory without anyone noticing.¡± Bestian strode towards the courtyard, not bothering to wait for Milly¡¯s response. ¡°He¡¯s going to speak with her¡­ alone?¡± ¡°That face - she could be a monster in disguise. He¡¯ll be in danger.¡± ¡°Bestian is so incredible!¡± That last whisper came from Hydel again, sounding like an excited fanboy fawning over a celebrity. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ ah¡­ sorry about hurting your wrist,¡± Milly apologized again to Geta, whose stare had shifted from fear to concern. That¡¯s an improvement, I guess¡­ Milly followed the Administrator outside, keeping Coco close by. Enzel tried to follow with her ¨C desperate for another ride on Coco ¨C but Apoi picked the rambunctious child up with one hand and placed her upon his shoulders. She squealed in delight as the big man took her on a piggyback ride around the complex. When she arrived in the courtyard, Bestian was already kneeling in the garden. It was no longer filled with long-dead floral remains. It had blossomed to life with dozens of different colored flowers and vegetables. Bestian plucked a tuber from the earth and squeezed it in his fist, collecting the released liquid in a vial pulled from his pocket. Bestian patted the soil next to him. Milly walked over, smoothing out her gown before gently kneeling in the earth. Despite his size, she wasn¡¯t afraid of him. She doubted anyone here posed a much of a threat to her, even with her depleted magic reserves. Yet anxiety tugged at the back of her mind. I need answers from him. The Waypoint Pillar. How to get home. Whatever they are ¨C projection or people ¨C I need them to return to Cally, Passi, and Rain. ¡°Now that it¡¯s just the two of us,¡± Bestian began, before sternly raising his voice as he looked towards the entrance to the complex. ¡°without the interruption of prying eyes ¡­¡± The eavesdropping Orianes huddled by the door scattered, and the Administrator chuckled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me why you are here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­,¡± Milly hesitated. What can I say? Hey there, I¡¯m a creature from another world, hurled into a death game by some mad gods. I rode on the back of a massive dragon and found myself washed up on this island filled with nightmare beasts. Oh, and by the way, you¡¯re not real. You¡¯re a memory. Though you might become real if that orb keeps pumping you full of life energy. Somehow, I don¡¯t think the truth is going to get me very far. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ the new biochemist¡­ from Core Station,¡± Milly lied, repeating the whisper she¡¯d heard inside. ¡°Are you now?¡± Bestian asked quizzicality. ¡°And the monster at your side?¡± Coco gave a tiny chirp of protest at the characterization, and Bestian looked genuinely apologetic. Milly scratched behind Coco¡¯s ears, where she knew Coco liked it, and Coco plopped herself down next to Milly. ¡°This is Coco. She¡¯s harmless,¡± Milly assured him. ¡°She¡¯s not a monster. She¡¯s¡­ a family pet. My companion on the road.¡± Bestian reached over and stroked Coco¡¯s back gently. Coco tensed for a moment, but quickly leaned into his touch, and the combination of pets and scritches made her whistle with pleasure. ¡°Quite a journey from Core Station,¡± he pried. ¡°We were not notified of your arrival, nor did we spot your balloon on the horizon. How did you make it up here?¡± ¡°I climbed,¡± Milly answered. I haven¡¯t seen any of them use magic, so best not open that can of worms unless I have to. Bestian barked a laugh. ¡°You climbed Delver¡¯s Mount? Navigated its treacherous slope and toxic fumes, as you avoided the packs of hybrids that roam the skies and lands below?¡± ¡°Y¡­ yes?¡± Milly answered reluctantly. She felt her lie already falling apart at the seams. ¡°In a dress?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very comfortable, and I¡¯m very strong,¡± Milly assured him, and tried to turn the tide of questions. ¡°How long has this research station been here?¡± ¡°Was that not part of your instruction at Core Station Academy?¡± inquired Bestian. ¡°I know the biochemistry stream still has Archipelago History as a first-year prerequisite. It covers Delver¡¯s Mount and the attributes of its core compound, so you should¡¯ve known better than to climb its slopes.¡± Milly shrugged. ¡°I¡­ was never very good at history.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised. Professor Syune may be young, but she¡¯s one of the best there is. Students don¡¯t tend to forget the lessons she imparts upon them. Not given her¡­ rather unorthodox methods.¡± ¡°Maybe you could remind me?¡± Milly prompted, as she cringed at her complete inability to act the spy. ¡°Very well,¡± Bestian humored her. ¡°Research Station Omega was founded twenty-six years ago to study the compound from the depths of the volcano. Its mutative impacts on local wildlife are quite fascinating, you see. I was a member of the advanced research team who first discovered the compound, though our little team has grown significantly in the years since. The island was incorporated into the Archipelago Research Alliance ten years ago, and its funding let us take our research to new heights. But, of course, you know all about that research, being our new biochemist...¡± Bestian gave her a curious, sidelong glance and a subtle grin as he squeezed another tuber¡¯s juices into the vial. Milly felt a ping in the back of her mind as her Ceaseless Skepticism triggered. He knows I¡¯m not their new biochemist. I didn¡¯t fool him for a second. I need to find out about that orb and find a way home, before he decides to end this game. ¡°You must have taken very good care of your facility,¡± Milly gently challenged. ¡°There isn¡¯t a scratch on it. Anywhere. As if it were built yesterday. Bestian paused and stared across the courtyard, as if seeing its perfection for the first time. Milly saw uncertainty creep into his confident casualness. He noticed the untouched walls and the dormant bronze pipes and frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ got an exceptional maintenance team,¡± he explained, though his voice carried doubt at his own words. ¡°Oh?¡± Milly pressed. ¡°Where are they?¡± The silence around them became heavy ¨C the silence of an empty village that once held over five hundred Orianes. The only murmurs came from the dozen researchers back in the main complex. The only ones given form ¨C given life ¨C by the black orb with its limited available life energy. Bestian turned back to Milly, his eyes no longer playful. ¡°It was my brother who first discovered the compound, you know. We were part of the same research expedition and built this place together. A brilliant scientist, his talent was eclipsed by only one other in the entire Archipelago Research Alliance ¨C his son¡­ my nephew. The man who was to be our new biochemist. Milly knew their short conversational dance was at an end. ¡°Who are you really, girl? Because you are clearly not my nephew.¡± Bestian¡¯s next words chilled Milly to her very core. ¡°You are not Dr. Taydon Cizen.¡± Chapter 106 - Exchange ¡°The price of anything is how much life you exchange for it.¡± Henry David Thoreau, American Author ¡°Dr¡­ Dr. Taydon Cizen?¡± Milly stuttered the name, oblivious to the cautious glare that Administrator Bestian now shot her way. Cizen. The Mayan God of Death. The secret third designer of the Thirteenth God Contest. The god that corrupted Xavier in the Arena of Choice. It can¡¯t be the same person. This must be a coincidence. It¡­ it must be. It¡­ no¡­ Milly took a deep breath to settle her mind. Her thoughts were spiraling, desperate to grasp hold of a reason ¨C any reason ¨C why the obvious explanation couldn¡¯t be true. But she didn¡¯t have the luxury of self-delusion. Not here. Not now. Not when the lives of her family were at stake. Face what¡¯s right before your eyes, Milly. Focus. Be curious. Figure this out¡­ ¡°Yes. Dr. Cizen. My nephew,¡± answered Bestian. ¡°The greatest infectious disease specialist in the history of the Archipelago Research Alliance. Probably the greatest in history.¡± ¡°He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s not a god, is he?¡± Milly asked cautiously. There was no way of asking that question without sounding like a crazy person, but she needed to know. ¡°A god? I have no idea what a god is, but he certainly isn¡¯t one. He¡¯s a research fellow at Core Station Academy. He¡¯s on his way to Research Station Omega ¨C a sabbatical with his new mate to study the mutagenic properties of our compound.¡± He doesn¡¯t know what a god is. Perhaps the Oriane¡¯s don¡¯t worship gods at all? ¡°His mate?¡± prompted Milly. Bestian frowned impatiently, yet he answered her question. ¡°Professor Syune. The woman you supposedly took Archipelago History from at the Academy, remember? They are new lovers ¨C barely a month coupled ¨C but I¡¯ve never heard Taydon speak more passionately about anything. Even his beloved research took second place to ¨C in his words ¨C ¡®a love that will last lifetimes¡¯.¡± Milly had heard the name Syune before ¨C in the memory orb she¡¯d received from Twotongue. Where she had first glimpsed the decayed form of the god of the dead. He¡¯d been talking to Hephaestus, who recruited him as the third designer of the God Contest. ¡°The three of us¡­ we were so close, Cizen, back in the before. We fought side-by-side, to the bitter end, and we earned our reward, if you could call it that. What happened in that final battle ¨C it wasn¡¯t Oracle¡¯s fault. And it wasn¡¯t yours, my dear friend. It was just the four of us left, and Syune¡­ Syune just didn¡¯t make it. ¡°Don¡¯t you say her name, Hephaestus. She died many cycles ago, and I have moved on. The god of the dead doesn¡¯t hold to such attachments.¡± ¡°Bullshit. She was your wife, Cizen. Such pain leaves unhealed scars on our souls. The kind that never fade.¡± Milly abruptly stared up into the sky, at the stream of life energy that flowed from a place beyond her sight into the black orb. An orb which now funneled that life into Bestian and the others. Cizen¡¯s words echoed in her mind. ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous thing to have the creation of all intelligent life be the purview of a single, poorly understood entity.¡± Despite the heat of the volcano, Milly shivered. The river of life in the sky. Cizen is siphoning away the life of the Nexus and using it to fuel the resurrection of these people. His wife. His uncle. The more than five hundred other Orianes, their memories stored within the black orb until it has accumulated enough energy. And I¡¯m willing to bet it¡¯s not just this island. Did he replicate the entire Archipelago Research Alliance and hide it within the God Contest? There was now no doubt left in Milly¡¯s mind that Cizen was the puppet master that Luna had been tasked to find. The one who had been manipulating the God Contests so humans would fail, and, though their failures, stretch the Nexus to its limits. With the Nexus weakened, Cizen could slowly siphon away its power. The explanation seems plausible, but there must be more to it than that. The madness of the gods and the corruption in the game¡­ were those simply side effects, or was it Cizen¡¯s hammer blow? Her realization created more questions than answers, yet it was a start. Only¡­ What happens if he succeeds? If every Oriane is resurrected when the life battery reaches one hundred percent - more than two years from now ¨C then what? They are still stuck in the God Contest, just like the rest of us. And how does Cizen manage to get inside to be reunited with his loved ones? He must have a plan. I need to talk to Luna¡­If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Now, I¡¯m not going to answer any more of your questions until you start answering mine,¡± Bestian said, cautious but firm. ¡°Who are you? How did you get here?¡± Bestian¡¯s question interrupted Milly¡¯s contemplations. She stared into Bestian¡¯s topaz eyes, trying to glimpse Cizen¡¯s influence within. There was life in those eyes ¨C filled with complex emotion and thought, and a deep sense of bewilderment ¨C but she could sense none of Cizen¡¯s malice. They don¡¯t know. For them, today is just another day, only a stranger suddenly appeared in their midst. I need to keep this knowledge to myself until I learn out. And I need to find a way home. ¡°My name really is Milly¡­ Milly Brown,¡± Milly began, coming clean. ¡°I¡¯m not a biochemist, and I¡¯m not from the Archipelago Research Alliance. I didn¡¯t come to this¡­ this island of my own accord. I washed up on shore.¡± Bestian considered her for a long time before he spoke again. ¡°Which faction are you from? The Hidden Laboratories? The Algorithmic Monopoly? Or are you from one of the unaffiliated islands ¨C a spy come to steal our research?¡± ¡°What? No, nothing like that,¡± Milly denied with a vigorous shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m not from any of those.¡± ¡°Then where are you from?¡± he asked simply. ¡°A place far from here. My friends and I¡­ we were attacked by a dragon, and I managed to drive it off, but it carried me here. I don¡¯t know where I am, or how to get home.¡± Bestian gazed into Milly¡¯s eyes, weighing her words. Eventually, his shoulders relaxed, and a small smile curled on his lips. ¡°A¡­ dragon? I¡¯ve never heard of such a beast,¡± Bestian said as he leaned back in the dirt and plucked a purple flower from a vine. ¡°But I¡¯ve also never seen an Oriane as¡­ malformed as you, if you¡¯ll pardon my bluntness. You and your friends¡­ are you escaped research subjects from the Isles of Experimentation? It is acceptable if you are. The Archipelago Research Alliance has laws banning such experimentation. We abhor the practice. It would explain your unusual strength and¡­ well, your face.¡± What¡¯s wrong with my face? Cally likes my face. ¡°No, we¡¯re just from really far away,¡± Milly said, and Bestian nodded. ¡°I need to get back to them. My girlfriend and my daughter.¡± Enzel¡¯s squeal of joy echoed from inside the research chamber, and Bestian gently laughed. ¡°Daughters. They¡¯re a handful, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t really know,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°She¡¯s a tiny little kid, but feisty and curious, with a knack for healing. I still have so much to learn about her. She asked me to be her mother the day before the dragon attacked. And every second I¡¯m away is another second I¡¯m not there to protect her.¡± Milly was unprepared for the look of sadness that cascaded over Bestian¡¯s face. ¡°You can spend every day of your life with her and still have so much to learn,¡± Bestian said sympathetically. ¡°Despite your earlier fabrication, I have decided to believe you, Milly. Though you hold many secrets, I can see a kind soul within you when you speak of your family. There is love reflected in your eyes, and those who have such love deserve my trust ¨C until they prove otherwise.¡± ¡°I¡­ thanks¡­,¡± Milly said gratefully. ¡°Bestian, I need to get home. Can you help me?¡± ¡°Do you know where home is?¡± Bestian asked. ¡°No,¡± Milly answered. ¡°I think it¡¯s to the west, but I could have traveled a hundred or a thousand miles while on the dragon. I can set out across the ocean, but without a destination, I¡¯m afraid my magic will run out before I find land again.¡± Bestian was perplexed, though it wasn¡¯t for the reason Milly expected. ¡°The ocean? What do you mean, across the ocean?¡± Bestian asked, and he started to laugh as if Milly had told a joke. ¡°You can¡¯t travel on the seas. The beasts below the waves will gobble you up before you get an hour away from shore. Do you¡­¡± Bestian saw the confused look on Milly¡¯s face, and his laugher stopped. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re serious? Your people travel the seas? How¡­ how is that possible?¡± Bestian asked excitedly, his academic curiosity instantly aroused. ¡°You must tell me everything.¡± This is my chance. ¡°Well, how to do you travel between your islands? The Waypoint Pillars?¡± Milly prompted hopefully. ¡°The¡­ what?¡± Milly¡¯s heart sank. ¡°The obelisk. In the jungle¡­¡± Milly started, trying to mime the shape of it with her hands. Bestian only grew more perplexed. ¡°You don¡¯t know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Miss Brown. We travel the skies in hot air ballons. It¡¯s a time-consuming method of transportation ¨C subject to the whims of the wind ¨C but it¡¯s the only safe way to travel,¡± Bestian explained. ¡°The ocean¡­ we¡¯ve only heard of traveling the oceans in old legends from before the Reckoning. This¡­ magic¡­ you mentioned. It¡¯s¡­ some kind of fuel?¡± Milly was really hoping he wouldn¡¯t have picked up on her slip of the tongue. ¡°In a way, I guess. I don¡¯t really know how to describe it,¡± Milly said vaguely, hoping that would be enough. It wasn¡¯t. ¡°Well, Milly Brown,¡± Bestian concluded. ¡°If you¡¯re a spy from another faction, you¡¯re terrible at it. In exchange for knowledge that any four-year-old knows, you have illuminated my curiosity with hints of ocean travel and this fuel called magic. I have a proposal for you.¡± Milly grew hopeful. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know myself how to get you home,¡± Bestian started apologetically. ¡°But if you stay here for three days and share with me your knowledge, I shall provide you with one of our balloons and a map of the Archipelago to guide you. With these, you can make your way to Core Station ¨C the heart of the Archipelago. If anyone knows how to find your home, you¡¯ll find them at the heart.¡± ¡°Three days?¡± Milly asked. It was a lifeline, but three days was a long time in the God Contest. ¡°I assure you, it will take Apoi three days to prepare the balloon for your travels. They are finicky things, and you don¡¯t want it failing in the middle of the ocean,¡± Bestian advised. He glimpsed over her shoulder, to the tear that ran across the back of her dress. ¡°Besides, I think you could use the rest. You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± Coco barked her agreement, nuzzling against Milly¡¯s leg. It¡¯s the best hope I have. If Bestian doesn¡¯t know about the Waypoint Pillar, my chances of activating it are sunk. Traveling by balloon¡­ it¡¯s better than trying to swim. ¡°I¡¯d¡­ appreciate that, Bestian,¡± Milly agreed. ¡°As long as you understand there are some things I can¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°As long as you accept the same,¡± Bestian said, extending his hand. ¡°You know, in case I¡¯m wrong, and you actually are a spy. I¡¯m not about to divulge any of our research breakthroughs to a stranger, after all.¡± Milly laughed. ¡°I doubt I¡¯d understand it anyway. I didn¡¯t even finish school.¡± Bestian gave her a look of mock horror. Three days gives me time to examine that black orb and learn what I can about it. And Bestian is right. I could use the rest. Milly reached out and shook his hand. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°Well then, Milly Brown,¡± Bestian beamed. ¡°Welcome to Research Station Omega.¡± Chapter 107 - Overcoming Fear ¡°I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.¡± Nelson Mandela, South African President The scent of wildflowers and the croak of the Manifest Toads greeted Calista as she appeared in Milly¡¯s Meadow, Passi cradled in her arms. Even the jolt of the Waypoint Pillar hadn¡¯t been enough to wake the exhausted child. They¡¯d spent the last three days, from sunrise to sunset, leveling up Passi. She¡¯d hit level ten that afternoon, after wiping out a goblin encampment. The seemingly fragile fairy was quickly becoming a force on the battlefield. Yet she was still a child, and prone to push herself to the brink of exhaustion. It wasn''t the first night that Calista had carried to poor girl home. Calista walked towards their simple stone house in the meadow ¨C the one Milly had crafted before she went missing ¨C and enjoyed the peaceful grove along the increasingly worn path from their Waypoint Pillar to their home. The gentle gurgle of the river and the music of the multicolored songbirds helped sooth Calista¡¯s fractured spirit, and the cool breeze wafting off the glaciers lodged in the bowls of the surrounding mountains soothed her aching muscles. Rain¡¯s alchemy workshop ¨C situated across the meadow from their home ¨C had brightly colored steam flowing out the windows and ventilation hatch in the thatch roof. The frantic clang of thick, black cauldrons signaled Rain had returned from her shop for the night and had dived right into her experimentation. Anchovy sat atop the roof of the workshop and, upon seeing his family return from the wilds, hopped to the ground and leisurely weaved his way towards them. ¡°Evening Anchovy,¡± Calista said quietly as Anchovy rubbed against her leg and purred. Calista scratched him between the ears. ¡°You two have a good day at Rain on my Parade?¡± Rain¡¯s familiar gave a faint meow as he followed at Calista¡¯s side into their home. Passi groaned in her sleep, and Calista ran her fingers gently through the child¡¯s purple hair to soothe her. Passi settled, and Calista smiled with affection. Begin able to care for Passi ¨C for Milly¡¯s daughter ¨C gave her a sense of grounding she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been missing in her life, even before the God Contest. Their home was constructed from simple grey stone, its ten-foot-high walls raised from the earth by Milly¡¯s magic. It only had four rooms, giving it a quaint, comfortable feeling. Three equally sized rooms served as Calista, Rain, and Passi¡¯s bedrooms, and each had a window that faced the river and the forest-covered mountains beyond. Connecting all three bedrooms was the largest room that they¡¯d turned into a kitchen and dining area, its fireplace tucked away against the wall. A gentle fire burned in the fireplace, granting warmth to their home. They¡¯d been slowly decorating over the past week to give the otherwise stark appearance a sense of life. They¡¯d purchase all new furniture, linen, and cookware from Tutoria¡¯s Emporium. The gold she¡¯d earned from killing Judy Brass and the dozens of wolves over the past week had covered most of it, and she¡¯d sold the Cloak of the Aristocracy she¡¯d received from Brass¡¯ corpse to cover the rest. She couldn¡¯t wear it anyway. Not without advertising her crime, and Calista would prefer such knowledge to die along with the woman. Each bedroom resembled what it had been like at Freelancer Tower, though smaller and without the wide, empty office hallways between. Calista had replaced their bed and linen with the one she knew Milly liked, and kept her side of the bed prepared for the day she would return home. Their home was the size of a small apartment ¨C simple, but functional. The only downside was the lack of washrooms and running water, which required them to either bath in the river or take the Waypoint Pillar to the Castle of Glass. Elmer and Alison had been kind enough to let them use their facilities, so it was an inconvenience rather than a hinderance. Nevertheless, against Calista¡¯s advice, Passi had taken water magic at level five. She said it reminded her of her mom, but Calista knew it was because Passi had grown used to the convenience of running water and didn¡¯t want to return to life without it. She''d spent her life in the jungle with her tribe - before Xavier had wiped them out - going behind trees and bathing in rivers or during the rainshowers that frequented the forest. Calista couldn''t blame her for wanting the a little luxury in her life, so she hadn''t made a big deal of Passi''s choice. ¡°This home is better than Freelancer Tower,¡± Calista whispered to Anchovy as she ducked into Passi¡¯s room and gently lay the child in her hammock. Passi stirred, and Calista pulled her blanket up to her shoulder as she tucked her in. ¡°It¡¯s ours ¨C only ours ¨C and thanks to its entry restrictions, it¡¯s the safest place in the game.¡± Anchovy mewed his agreement as he parkoured off the wall and into the hammock. He curled up next to Passi ¨C his preferred napping spot ¨C and within moments, Passi had bundled him up in her arms without ever waking and the cat had fallen asleep. Calista quietly said good night to Milly¡¯s daughter ¨C her daughter ¨C as she left Passi¡¯s bedroom. The sound of gentle snoring - both fairy and cat - wafted out of the bedroom and made Calista smile. A small cauldron of hot water hung over the fireplace. Calista grabbed a mug ¨C there were only three as a single mug cost three hundred gold at the Emporium ¨C and filled it with water before heading over to Rain¡¯s workshop. Inside was a panorama of controlled chaos. Rain had eight cauldrons on the go, each with a distinctive scent and color and heated by its own fire that Rain stoked with her magic. Two dozen mostly empty glass jars stretched across a stone shelf that ran above the cauldrons, which Rain preferred over her inventory as it primed her creativity. Calista strolled over to a bookshelf along the back wall, where more glass jars contained different kinds of tea. She grabbed an empty silk bag, filled it with tea from the nearest jar, and added it to her mug. This batch was a new combination that Rain had been fiddling with for days. She let it steep as she watched Rain work. Rain dashed about the workshop, instinctively stirring the cauldrons and stoking the fires with blasts of fire from her palm. She sniffed one of the brews ¨C a dark purple liquid with pink steam ¨C and crinkled her nose. Quickly opening her inventory, she selected an herb that Calista recognized as growing along rocky outcroppings on the beach. Slicing it into thin strips, Rain added half to the brew before returning the remainder to her inventory. She sniffed again and, satisfied, left the brew to simmer. Calista sipped her tea, savoring the nutty taste. ¡°How is it?¡± Rain asked curiously without looking away from her cauldrons. ¡°Better than the last batch, but it¡¯s still missing something,¡± Calista answered truthfully. ¡°It leaves a bit of a bitter aftertaste.¡± Rain approached and Calista held out her mug. She took a sip and the crinkle in her nose reappeared. ¡°Needs citrus,¡± Rain concluded with a smack of her lips. ¡°Lucy¡¯s orchards are growing quickly thanks to the Farmer¡¯s nature magic, but it¡¯ll still be at least a year before they produce any fruit.¡± ¡°Six months,¡± Calista said. ¡°Lucy took a new talent today that will double their growth. I don¡¯t think we need lemons and oranges that badly, but she seemed to be excited by its potential.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you two patched things up,¡± Rain commented, and Calista shrugged noncommittally. ¡°Anyway, Xavier and Jacob came back with some wild pineapple from the jungle this afternoon. They traded me some for a couple healing potions. It should be a decent substitute until the orchard bears fruit.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°I just got back from the wilds, Rain. I don¡¯t want to hear about fucking Xavier and Stone,¡± Calista huffed as she took another sip of her tea. ¡°You should. They¡¯re some of the few players still trying to push further out from the Castle of Glass. The rest seem content to occupy themselves with pet projects. Billy¡¯s building his new restaurant. Ying¡¯s expanding the hospital. Samson launched the first fishing boat into the bay this morning from his the new docks. The farmers have tripled the size of the garden, and Amir and Kenji¡¯s team is nearly finished constructing the wall around the Castle. Did you know Cosmo is planning a music festival?¡± ¡°Some people spend their time running a shop,¡± Calista added sarcastically, with more bite than she¡¯d intended. She¡¯d asked Rain every night to join them in the wilds, and each night Rain had responded with ¡®ask me tomorrow¡¯. ¡°Yes, some people run a shop,¡± Rain admitted, ignoring Calista¡¯s sarcasm. ¡°After the dragon attack ¨C after that terrible day when we lost so many friends ¨C can you really blame any of us for finding an obsession and collapsing in on ourselves? We need time to heal.¡± A deep silence fell on the workshop. Calista wandered over to the potions and sniffed one ¨C a dark, tar-like substance that sparkled with flecks of gold. Her nose went numb. ¡°Paralysis potion. For Passi¡¯s daggers,¡± explained Rain, as she stirred it counterclockwise three times. ¡°And for mine.¡± ¡°Yours?¡± Calista pried hopefully. Rain didn¡¯t answer right away. She plucked one of the jars from the shelf and peered inside, fishing for the last leaf within. ¡°Did you get Passi to level ten?¡± Rain asked solemnly. ¡°Yah. We¡¯ve gone as far as we can go fighting goblins and boars. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll push out further from the Castle. She¡¯s ready.¡± Calista had told Rain about Passi¡¯s conversion to a player when she¡¯d asked Rain to enchant Passi¡¯s equipment, though she¡¯d omitted the part about Passi¡¯s attempted assassination of Xavier. ¡°Wolves?¡± Rain asked with anxious curiosity. ¡°No. The wolves have been another dead end in my search for Milly, and I don¡¯t think Passi is ready to face the wolves after what they did to her people,¡± Calista said as she finished her tea. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading into the mountains. I caught a glimpse of a cave through the rift when the dragon first appeared. It¡¯s not much to go on, but it¡¯s all I have.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be dangerous,¡± Rain muttered, picking up another empty jar. This one had once held orange wildflowers that grew along the valley river, but she¡¯d used the last one two days ago. ¡°We know,¡± Calista shrugged. ¡°But where in this world isn¡¯t dangerous, other than this meadow? Passi¡¯s ready for this, Rain. She¡¯s a remarkably brave little girl.¡± ¡°Probably¡­ probably lots of ingredients to collect further into the mountains,¡± Rain muttered, but her voice cracked at the end. Calista could see her hand shaking as she clutched the jars. Rain was trying to act brave. Trying to convince herself to go, but the thought brought her back to that day on the beach. The day they watched their friends die. It broke Calista¡¯s heart to watch Rain¡¯s struggle. It had been over a month since the God Contest started, and already it had left its deep scars in each of them. Yet to see her friend ¨C whom had once been the pinnacle of bravery and curiosity ¨C like this was almost unbearable. Calista pulled Rain into a tight embrace and held her tight. The tears Rain had kept inside since the dragon¡¯s slaughter ¨C since they¡¯d lost Milly ¨C finally broke free, like a dam bursting under tremendous pressure. ¡°You don¡¯t have to always be brave, Rain,¡± Calista soothed. ¡°I¡¯m here for you. Let me be the brave one for a while.¡± Rain simply buried her face into the tall redhead¡¯s shoulder and cried, until Calista¡¯s shoulder was soaked, and Rain¡¯s tears were exhausted. ¡°Sorry,¡± Rain laughed softly with relief. She pressed her hand against Calista¡¯s shoulder and used her fire to quickly dry the fabric. ¡°What¡­ what time are we leaving?¡± ¡°Rain, you don¡¯t have to¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Rain insisted, the seed of bravery taking root inside her, like a tiny sapling after a terrible fire. ¡°You said it before. I¡¯m falling behind. Besides¡­¡± Rain tapped the glass of the empty jar. ¡°I¡¯ve run out of ingredients, and I can¡¯t be much of an alchemist without them.¡± ¡°We leave at first light,¡± Calista answered. ¡°Passi will be thrilled. She¡¯s been wanting to show off her skills to her Auntie Rain.¡± ¡°How¡¯s she doing with¡­ with Milly¡¯s absence?¡± ¡°The same as I am ¨C strong on the outside, crying on the inside,¡± Calista said truthfully. ¡°And flopping between anger and emptiness at the drop of a hat. But we¡¯re going to find her Rain. If we have to search this entire fucking world, we¡¯re going to find her.¡± Rain nodded supportively and returned to her cauldrons. The two friends chatted for another hour ¨C Calista filling the silence with juicy gossip from Minerva and Harriet ¨C while Rain bottled her potions. Eventually, exhaustion overcame Calista, and she left Rain to finish in her workshop. Trudging across the meadow, the crisp scent of pine and soft gurgle of the river soothing her thoughts, she returned to their home and collapsed into bed. Where she dreamed of a beautiful witch, and the life they would have when she returned.
Calista Gale Level: 31 Specialty: Reluctant Leader Class: Battlefield Commander Sub-class: The Relentless Hound Strength: Base: 60 Enhanced: 74 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: Base: 33 Enhanced: 49 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +10 from Talaria of Mercury) Toughness: Base: 61 Enhanced: 64 (+3 Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Magic: Base: 17 Enhanced: 21 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Shield ¨C Protective Shield (advanced, augmented by Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Defensive ¨C Defensive Instincts (advanced) Combat - Spear Specialist (advanced), Spear Manipulation (beginner) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner), Battlefield Stabilization (beginner) Mobilization ¨C Logistics (beginner), Enhanced scrounging (beginner) Battalion ¨C Battlefield Communication (advanced) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector Class Talents: Soldier¡¯s Morale, The Adaptable Strategist, Unstoppable Force, The Price of Command, Coward¡¯s Folly Sub-Class Talents: Unyielding Pursuit, Eagle¡¯s Sight, Apex Predator, There is No Escape, A Thousand Eyes Equipment Benefits: Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga) Improved Perception (advanced, Huntress'' Scrunchy) Companion of Artemis (Luna''s Pendant of the Journey) Double Speed (Talaria of Mercury) Temporary Flight (5 seconds, Talaria of Mercury)
Rain Desjarlais Level: 25 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 29 Enhanced: 33 (+4 from Rain¡¯s Ring of the Fallen Wolf) Agility: Base: 34 Enhanced: 40 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 25 Enhanced: 34 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +3 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: Base: 38 Enhanced: 46 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Talents: Alchemy - Alchemy (advanced) Combat - Dagger Specialist (advanced) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (advanced) Invention ¨C Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Talents: The World Smith¡¯s Blank Canvas, The Master of Invention, Driver of Evolution, The Innocuous Flaw, Only the Original Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Fancy Footwork (beginner, Rain¡¯s Work Boots)
Passiflora Brown Level: 10 Specialty: Healer, Assassin Class: None Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 6 Enhanced: 8 (+2 from Passi¡¯s Twin Daggers) Agility: Base: 10 Enhanced: 14 (+2 from Passi¡¯s Sandals, +2 from Passi¡¯s Twin Daggers) Toughness: Base: 10 Enhanced: 12 (+2 from Passi¡¯s Favorite Dress) Magic: Base: 12 Enhanced: 12 Talents: Assassination - Dagger Specialist (advanced), Sneak (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Healer¡¯s Touch (beginner) Fairy Magic ¨C Flight (beginner) Elemental Magic ¨C Water (beginner) Unique Talent: None Class Talents: None Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Regeneration (beginner, Passi¡¯s Awesome Ring) Defensive Daggers (beginner, Passi¡¯s Cool Necklace) Double Speed (beginner, Passi¡¯s Sandals) Protective Shield (beginner, Passi¡¯s Favorite Dress)
Chapter 108 - The Valley Champion ¡°Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.¡± Confucius, Chinese Philosopher ¡°Oh, this kind of bark repels wood ticks if brewed together with oil from those flounders that Samson has been pulling out of the bay,¡± Rain said excitedly as they followed the river north up the valley. Jagged peaks rose up on either side of them, beautiful and terrifying. ¡°An extract of this moss will help clear up eye infections. Passi! Take this jar and collect that deer scat. It¡¯ll make an excellent addition to our nausea poison.¡± ¡°Rain, please don¡¯t ask her to collect deer shit,¡± Calista sighed, her eyes fixed on the path before them as she scanned for enemies. Rain and Passi meandered this way and that, collecting whatever alchemy ingredients Rain spotted, comfortable with the notion that Calista would spot any dangers before they arrived. Right now, they seem to be collecting the entire valley. But at least Rain seems happy. ¡°Fine, fine. Anchovy can collect the scat with his Invisible Hand. Pumpkin, why don¡¯t you collect the purple flowers off that bush instead?¡± ¡°What do these do?¡± Passi asked curiously as she severed the stem of the first flower with her dagger and watched it fall gently down into the jar. She¡¯d collected six more before Rain answered, her wrist flicking across the stems with lightning accuracy. ¡°It¡¯s an aphrodisiac,¡± answered Rain with a mischievous grin. ¡°I want to try making it into a poison. Apply a bit of that to your daggers and watch the monsters¡­¡± ¡°Rain! My daughter is not going to fight with your weird sex poisons,¡± Calista insisted. ¡°What¡¯s an aphrodisiac?¡± Passi asked innocently. Rain ruffled her purple hair. ¡°Auntie Rain will tell you when you¡¯re older. But don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re only an hour away from the meadow, and already the materials are stronger and more versatile than those around the Castle, so I¡¯ll be able to brew you something cool. I wonder if the materials are like the monsters ¨C the further away we get, the stronger they are. Oh, hold on a moment.¡± Rain dashed over to a boulder off the animal path they were travelling and pressed her hand flush against it. Channeling her metal magic, she began to draw out the iron particles contained within. Calista held her arm out and snapped her fingers, summoning her spiritual eagle familiar. Its ghostly form materialized on her outstretched arm as Passi rushed over to scratch under its chin. As usual, her fingers passed right through, but the bird didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°Did you name it yet?¡± Passi asked hopefully. ¡°Not yet,¡± Calista said, as she threw her arm out and launched the eagle into the air. ¡°Aquila,¡± called Rain from the boulder. ¡°It¡¯s Latin for eagle. It fits with the whole vibe you have going on.¡± ¡°How the hell do you know that?¡± Calista shouted back. ¡°Greek history. It was my elective¡­ before I dropped out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pretty name,¡± Passi agreed, staring up at the soaring eagle. ¡°You shall be Aquila, right Calista?¡± ¡°I¡­ sure, okay Passi,¡± Calista relented. She¡¯d tried to avoid naming the creature ¨C the severing of their minds when it was unsummoned was painful, as if the eagle died each time ¨C but the combination of Passi and Rain was like kryptonite to her usual stubbornness. ¡°Rain, keep an eye on Passi. I¡¯m going to use¡­ Aquila¡­ to scout ahead.¡± Calista took a deep breath and focused on the eagle. She felt her mind drawn into it. A second later, she was looking through the eyes of the spectral predator, able to see across the entire valley with its piercing gaze. A herd of elk to the west ¨C I¡¯ll need to let Mohammad know when we get back. That waterfall might have a hidden cave behind it. In the east¡­ shit, that bear must be twenty feet tall. And¡­ is that a beak instead of a mouth? I don¡¯t think we want to mess with that. I wonder what¡­ Her pendant activated, and a new entry to her bestiary was added.
Unique Beast: The Valley Champion All kneel before he who bests the champion. The Valley Champion stalks the river to the north of Calista¡¯s Twin Peaks. This alpha predator is known for slicing open the stomach of its prey and feasting upon its innards while it is still alive. In addition to its vicious claws, razor-sharp beak, and colossal toughness, it is able to learn and wield any talents used against it, making this Unique Beast more powerful the longer the battle lasts. Weaknesses: Fire, Illusion Recommended Player Level: 34
A unique beast. That changes things. We can get a permanent boost if we bring its meat back to Billy. Calista closed the eagle¡¯s eyes, and opened her own, her mind returned to her body. ¡°What¡¯d you see?¡± Rain asked, carrying a perfectly round sphere of iron in her hand. ¡°A unique beast at the river bend to the east. Level thirty-four, but I think we can take it.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Gorath and Fairy Killer were level thirty,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°And they weren¡¯t even remotely easy to take down.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got the advantage this time. We¡¯ll ambush it ¨C hit it hard and fast using your poisons. Weapons only though ¨C it can copy talents used against it,¡± Calista advised. ¡°Passi, it¡¯s too strong for you to fight directly. You stay hidden, and when Rain and I have weakened it enough, you strike it from a distance. That should be enough for you to get some of the experience.¡± Passi drew her twin daggers from her belt, her face fixed in the serious manner of a child when trying to appear brave. ¡°I can do more. I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a little scary, pumpkin, you know that?¡± Calista chuckled, until she saw Rain had also drawn her dagger, her hand shaking like a leaf. ¡°Rain, we don¡¯t have to do this today. I can come back later and¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Rain interrupted, steadying her hand with the other. ¡°No, I need to figure out how to live with this. If we were back home, I¡¯d be in therapy right now. But we don¡¯t have that luxury, do we? If we aren¡¯t strong¡­ we aren¡¯t going to survive.¡± Calista wanted to reassure her ¨C to take her back to the meadow where it was safe ¨C but Rain wasn¡¯t wrong. Would any of them come out of this whole? Probably not. ¡°Alright, but let me take the brunt of it. Throw me over one of those poisons ¨C the paralysis one. The description doesn¡¯t say anything about it copying poisons and such, so we¡¯ll rely on those. Did you make more exploding ones? It¡¯s weak to fire.¡± Rain held up two bright orange vials. ¡°Give one to Passi,¡± Calista said. Rain passed one to the fairy girl, who stashed it in her inventory. ¡°Now, this thing is fishing at a bend in the river, a five-minute sprint from here. It¡¯s distracted, but it won¡¯t be for long. There¡¯s an old avalanche trail that leads up right behind it. We¡¯ll hide there and prepare the battleground. Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± * * * The whitewater flow of the valley river slowed at its bend, creating pools of still gentle water where plump trout gathered to rest from the current. The mature pines cast their gentle shadow over the water, protecting the pools from sunlight and the gaze of the birds of prey that soared overhead. Unfortunately for the fish, it did nothing to slow the giant bear with the hawk beak, who was currently decimating an entire school of trout that had sought shelter in the safety of the pool. Calista watched as the beast skewered a trout with its foot-long claws and devoured it whole. It had another two in its grasp before the first had slid down its throat. A gluttonous feast of violent proportions. ¡°Voracious little guy, isn¡¯t he?¡± Rain whispered from their hiding spot behind the largest boulder. ¡°Are we ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got the trip lines set between those six pines,¡± Calista said, pointing towards the edge of the tree line a few paces away. ¡°Passi, did you activate the bear traps?¡± Along the way, Calista had used her Wilderness Logistics talent to summon her mobile Tutoria Emporium to see if it had anything of use. She¡¯d purchased six bear traps at the exorbitant price of a thousand gold each. These were magical traps that would root a beast-type enemy in place for ten precious seconds, though its effectiveness diminished if the beast was a higher level than the player. Tutoria had assured her that The Valley Champion would still be held for a few seconds, though Calista was suspicious of their effectiveness with Tutoria pitching the traps to her like a sketchy used car salesman. ¡°Yes, I put them a couple traps behind the trip lines,¡± Passi replied, proud of herself. ¡°We should have bought these for the goblins.¡± ¡°It would have made our ambushes easier, that¡¯s for sure. Good job, pumpkin. Now for the finishing touches.¡± Calista activated her protective shield, and a one-shot, invisible barrier snapped into place around each of them. Next, her Soldier¡¯s Morale activated as she mentally linked them together as a squad, increasing each of their attributes by twenty percent. ¡°Remember the side effect,¡± warned Calista. ¡°If we need to retreat, our attributes are going to decrease by twenty percent. This is going to make running away much harder, so use your Waypoint Crystals instead. If we get separated, our gathering spot is Harriet¡¯s board in the lobby.¡± Rain drained a vial of paralysis poison into her Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, and helped Passi apply a coat to her twin daggers. ¡°You¡¯ve got preparing for battle down to a science, Calista,¡± Rain praised, feeling a little more confident. ¡°It¡¯s impressive.¡± ¡°Cally and I got lots of practice taking out the goblin camps,¡± Passi said proudly, swirling her dagger across her fingers in a way that made Calista¡¯s fledgling parenting instincts cry out. Calista focused and transitioned to Battlefield Communication. Passi, if you nick your fingers with those daggers, you¡¯re going to paralyze yourself. I¡¯m not going to carry you home if that happens. Sorry, Passi apologized, stowing the dagger back in its sheath. It¡¯s okay, pumpkin. Just be careful. This enemy is much stronger than anything you have faced, and you need to treat this seriously. Passi nodded resolutely, the only trace of her fear a tiny twitch at the corner of her eye. Okay you two, mental communication only from here on out. Passi, fly up and take your position in the pine above the tripwires. Rain, you station yourself by those rocks. Explosives and¡­ are you sure those things will work? Rain held up a handful of golf ball-sized iron spheres. In theory. I lay them all out and soak them in paralysis poison, then use my magic to launch them like musket balls at the creature. I¡¯ve been wanting to try it ever since I took advanced metal magic. You¡¯re a creative woman, Rain. But don¡¯t use that until it¡¯s almost dead. We don¡¯t want it to copy your magic and start shoot them back at us. As Passi flew up to her branch and Rain prepared her weapons behind the boulder, Calista crouched low and made her way towards the beast. It stood ankle-deep in the current, devouring the trout and oblivious to the three players behind it. It was an alpha predator in its kingdom ¨C unafraid of any that might seek to challenge it. Calista readied her Spear of Pinga and activated the Double Speed bonus of her Talaria of Mercury, which she usually kept dormant lest she accidently dash ahead and leave Passi behind. Passi and Rain¡­ here we go. On my count. One. Two. Th¡­ oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me! Calista caught the flash of movement from across the river just as Cynthia Carthage emerged from the woods, her two earth-formed wolves trotting at her side. The wolves had grown significantly over the past week, their heads now level with Cynthia¡¯s shoulders. What? What¡¯s wrong? Rain asked. It¡¯s the woman with the wolves, Passi said, her thoughts shaken. She could see the woman approach from her vantage point in the pine. The one that attacked me that day on the beach. Passi, don¡¯t be scared. We¡¯re here for you, Calista comforted her. I''m¡­ I¡¯m stronger than I was back then, Passi said coldly after a moment¡¯s hesitation. She doesn¡¯t scare me anymore. That¡¯s my girl, Calista praised, though deep down she was seething as she stared at the woman. Calista, I know what you¡¯re thinking, Rain projected to Calista alone. But we can¡¯t afford to lose any more players. Is she another one of your favorite customers, like Xavier and Stone? Calista replied sarcastically, though there was no malice in her words. She knew Rain did not exclude anyone from Rain on my Parade. Umm¡­ no, she¡¯s not one of my favorites, Rain said hesitantly. It was the greatest condemnation of a person that Calista had ever heard Rain utter. Let¡¯s just say if I weren¡¯t self-employed, she¡¯d be asking to see my manager. The Forest Champion raised its head from the pool, three trout skewered on its claws, and bellowed in rage as it spotted Cynthia and her wolves. Its muscles tensed as it prepared to charge across the river and obliterate the woman. Shit. Here we go. Stick with the plan you two. Stay sharp! Calista raised her spear and dashed from cover, straight towards the bear, as the colossal beast¡¯s roar echoed off the mountains. Chapter 109 - Teamwork? ¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡± Ancient Proverb Calista closed the distance to the monstrous beast in a flash, leaping into the air and embedding her spear in The Valley Champion¡¯s shoulder before it had taken its first full stride towards Cynthia. The paralysis poison slathered on her spear¡¯s tip seeped into the beast¡¯s arm as it spun and swiped towards its unexpected foe. Yanking out the spear, Calista dipped under the beast¡¯s counterstrike, her Defensive Instincts making her movements as agile as a ballerina. As she felt the wind of the creature¡¯s blow waft across her crimson hair, she managed to land three more jabs beneath its armpit, injecting more of Rain¡¯s poison into its body. A final jab in the side completed her initial assault as she danced back to avoid the kick from its back leg. The beast gave no indication it felt any pain, though each attack slightly slowed its movements. Grateful that it¡¯d had any effect on the high-level creature, Calista was tempted to return to the offensive for a few more targeted strikes. But that would give it a fair fight, and they didn¡¯t plan to fight fair. Calista mimicked her best ¡®scared prey¡¯ face and turned to run towards the trip lines and bear traps. If their plan worked, it¡¯d be trapped between the three of them ¨C rooted in place ¨C and they could finish it off from a distance. Get ready, you two, Calista projected as she caught the creature¡¯s eye. Let¡¯s make short work of this thing. We¡­ Cynthia¡¯s wolves leapt from the river onto the creature¡¯s back, their rocky teeth tearing away at its flesh. ¡°Damn it, Huntress. This wasn¡¯t your fight!¡± came Cynthia¡¯s cry from across the river as more players emerged from woods behind her. Xavier, Jacob Stone, Edna, and Mr. Fredrickson darted from the tree line, headed straight for The Vally Champion. As they reached the water, Jacob slammed his massive tower shield into the soil and a spectral bridge formed across the river. The bridge resembled a medieval drawbridge, with faintly blue, nearly transparent bricks forming its surface. Xavier was the first to step onto its surface, his speed a match for Calista¡¯s even with her Double Speed enhancement active. It took him less than a second to cross, his black blade clutched in his hand and eyes focused on the beast with steel resolve. Cally, what should we do? Passi asked, as fear and bravery went to war in the child¡¯s mind. Stay down, Calista instructed, her mind whirling. Don¡¯t engage in this fight, no matter what. Do you understand? But what if¡­ Passi started to protest. Her instincts told her to hide ¨C the scars caused by Xavier and the Carthage sister ran deep ¨C but she was tired of being scared of them. No. Matter. What. Calista insisted. If you do, they''ll know you''re a player. Passi reluctantly agreed, still conflicted. Calista knew this confrontation between Passi and Xavier was inevitable. They¡¯d done their best to keep Passi away from him ¨C using her mobile Emporium and mission board judiciously to limit their trips to the Castle of Glass ¨C but it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths. But why did it have to be now? Calista thought to herself. At the worst possible time. The Champion roared in outrage at assault, its bellow echoing off the mountains around them and triggering an avalanche of snow in the distance. It thrust its claws towards its shoulder and skewered one of the wolves through the throat, ripping it off its back and hurling it to the bed of smooth river stones at its feet. The summon¡¯s head was dislodged from its body and it melted into a pile of mud as it died. Cynthia, on the other side of the river, coughed up blood as her linked creature was destroyed. Mr. Fredrickson pressed his hands against Cynthia¡¯s back, his hands glowing healing blue, as Stone and Edna crossed the bridge behind Xavier. Her former boss had deep bags under his eyes as he healed the woman. He carried himself as if crushed under the weight of his sorrow, but he didn¡¯t flinch at the beast¡¯s fearsome roar. Xavier came in hard, his blade sweeping across the beast¡¯s back and leaving behind a deep gash down its spine, though it left no trace of blood. Milly had told her of the blade¡¯s appetite ¨C that it drained an enemy¡¯s lifeforce and used it to replenish the user ¨C but it was unsettling to see it herself. ¡°What did you have planned?¡± Xavier called, his blade sweeping for the Champion¡¯s calves as he dodged its strike and retreated beside Calista. ¡°Our traps are all on the other side of the river.¡± Calista looked at the man in utter confusion. Xavier, focused on the beast, was calm and collected as he waited for Jacob and Edna to arrive. There was no malice to his words. No anger. Just cold calculation. It was a stark difference compared to how she¡¯d seen Xavier fight before. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to accuse me of kill stealing, or some other nonsense?¡± Calista spat, unable to contain her dislike of the man. ¡°What? Why would¡­ oh, of all the cycle-barren¡­ Jacob! Edna! It¡¯s a talent absorber. Watch out!¡± As Xavier shouted the warning, the beast slammed its palms against the ground. The river stones beneath their feet began to rumble and join together as The Valley Champion channeled Cynthia¡¯s summoning talent. Five replicas of the beast were formed from the stones, and the unified roar of the enemy group shook the treetops. ¡°Great, that¡¯s just¡­¡± Xavier started, until an explosion rocked the space between two of the summons furthest from the river. Rain had hurled an explosive potion between them before they¡¯d even moved. The detonation sent shards of stones scattering across the battlefield as both creatures were blown apart. As they collapsed, The Valley Champion stumbled backwards, blood erupting from its mouth, as had happened to Cynthia when her wolf was slain. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a handy side-effect,¡± Jacob announced as he barreled straight into a third summon with his shield. A resounding crash filled the battlefield as the summon was knocked to the ground. Jacob jammed his shield into the summon¡¯s neck, severing its rocky head, and the main beast spat blood once again as another summon was destroyed. ¡°Edna, no shadows, my dear. Get your shot in while you can, or you¡¯ll miss out on the experience.¡± Edna drew a crossbow from her inventory ¨C one as dark and menacing as her shadows ¨C and fired at the Champion. Her bolt struck it straight in the right eye with a sickly thunk. The beast roared in pain, and, for the first time, a note of fear could be heard in its bellow. It had only taken a few moments for them to obliterate three of the five summons and leave the beast with limited vision. Despite its higher level, their superior numbers had quickly overwhelmed the creature. ¡°Let¡¯s finish it,¡± Xavier said, and before Calista could respond, Xavier had dashed for the beast, sword raised high. Now that seems more like the Xavier I know. What the hell is wrong with him? Calista thought as she followed him, hurling her spear for the beast¡¯s throat. Over the next thirty seconds, Calista and Xavier systematically tore through The Valley Champion with targeted strikes while Jacob and Edna dismantled the fourth summon. They skillfully dodged its increasingly desperate attempts to retaliate and Rain¡¯s poison compounded in its blood and slowed its movements with every passing second. Rain obliterated the final summon with her experimental iron balls ¨C shot out from her palm with her metal magic like a musket blast ¨C just as Xavier sliced across the Champion¡¯s throat and Calista jammed her spear through its remaining eye and into its skull. As The Valley Champion slumped forward, the victory screen appeared above them.
Congratulations! You have defeated Unique Beast: The Valley Champion You have been awarded 20,000 experience points. Edna Carthage has leveled up. Two attribute points and a class talent point acquired. Cynthia Carthage has leveled up. Two attribute points a class talent point acquired. Rain Desjarlais has leveled up. Two attribute points a class talent point acquired. Frank Fredrickson has leveled up three times. Six attribute points acquired. Items Received: Champion Steak x 7, bear claw x 2, Winter Coat of the Champion Gold: 7,000
Calista breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Passi¡¯s name was not on the list. The last thing she wanted was for these people to learn of her unexpected player status. Satisfied that Passi¡¯s secret was still safe, she opened her own player screen and saw her gold increase by a thousand ¨C a paltry sum that didn¡¯t even cover the cost of the bear traps. Hey, I leveled up! Rain projected as she emerged from behind the boulders and waved to Xavier. How far behind is Frank? He gained three levels and still doesn¡¯t have a class. Rain did some quick mental math. He¡¯s probably level eighteen or nineteen. Edna and Cynthia are likely close to my level, and Stone and Xavier are likely close to yours. They could be higher, but I don¡¯t think so. You and Xavier were pretty evenly matched in that fight. Rain, if they attack us, I don¡¯t know if we¡¯re strong enough to take all out, Calista said anxiously. Be ready to¡­ ¡°What are you guys doing out this way?¡± Rain said chipperly as she strolled from behind the boulders and walked towards Xavier and Stone. Extending her palm, the iron balls that had decimated the stone summon flew out of the rubble and returned to her hand. The casualness of her magic made Stone raise a curious ¨C and cautious ¨C eyebrow. ¡°We were just out for a leisurely stroll,¡± Cynthia replied sarcastically as she crossed the spectral bridge while wiping the residual blood from her mouth. Frank followed behind her, already engrossed in his level up and trying to avoid eye contact with Calista and Rain. ¡°What the fuck do you think we were doing?¡± ¡°You screwed up our ambush,¡± added Edna, equally irate. ¡°We¡¯d been stalking it for a day and would have had it trapped if not for you.¡± Rain gave the sisters her best customer service smile, which just made their scowls grow deeper. See, Cynthia¡¯s going to ask to see my manager at any moment, Rain chuckled, but her humor did little to alleviate Calista¡¯s anxiousness. She felt more on edge than she had in the midst of the battle. Time to go Rain, Calista said, opening her inventory to take out a Waypoint Crystal. Passi, honey, change of plans. We¡¯ll meet at the meadow¡­ Calista, Rain said firmly. Look, I¡¯m not a fool, but we talked about this. If we can¡¯t learn to tolerate each other, and, god forbid, work together, we¡¯re going to spend the rest of our short lives looking over our shoulders for the dagger while the game stabs us in the stomach. We don¡¯t have the luxury of holding grudges. Besides, I supply Xavier with his medicine and their entire group with potions. Do you really think Xavier ¨C the obsessive gamer ¨C is going to sacrifice that advantage for nothing? ¡°It¡¯s good to see you outside your shop, Alchemist,¡± Stone said, his words coated with his usual charismatic charm. ¡°Even if it is in¡­ less pleasant company. I¡¯ve told you before you¡¯re more than welcome to join us in our hunts.¡± Calista¡¯s scowl matched that of the Carthage sisters, as Edna tapped Stone¡¯s shoulder and pointed towards the forest - straight at Passi hidden in the shadow of the pine. ¡°Why¡¯d you bring your fairy child with you, Huntress?¡± Stone said curiously, raising his voice so Passi could hear them. ¡°Seems like a poor parenting decision.¡± Shit. How¡¯d he know you were there? Passi, head into the woods. No, I¡¯m tired of hiding, Passi responded indignantly. I don¡¯t want to be afraid anymore. I¡¯ll¡­ Passi! Damn it! Passi flew down from her branch and landed directly beside Calista, her cheeks puffed out in anger and a hand on the hilt of her dagger. Her knees trembled as she glared at Xavier, but she stood her ground. From behind the rocks, Anchovy darted from his hiding spot and sat at the girl¡¯s side with an equally petulant glare. Calista gripped her spear so tightly that her knuckles grew white, waiting for Xavier¡¯s anger to boil over and for him to strike. But Xavier didn¡¯t attack. He hardly even reacted. All he did was observe Passi and the cat with mild curiosity. ¡°Ah, the fairy child¡­ from the jungle tribe,¡± Xavier said impassively. ¡°You made her a little outfit. Cute.¡± There was no malice in Xavier¡¯s words. In fact, there was no sign at all that Xavier remembered Passi any more than he would a passing stranger seated next to him on the bus. Xavier opened the description of the Winter Coat of the Champion and began to study its description, already dismissive of the fairy child¡¯s sudden appearance. He¡­ he doesn¡¯t remember me? Passi projected to Calista, just as confused as she was. Stay on your guard, Passi, Calista responded. It could be a trick, or¡­ Calista hesitated. She didn¡¯t think it was a trick. She¡¯d known Xavier for years, and not once had the man been able to control his emotions in her presence. The thought that this man could hide his anger in front of his attempted murderer wasn¡¯t even within the realm of possibility. He¡­ he really doesn¡¯t remember getting stabbed by Passi. ¡°This coat is a tank-class item,¡± Xavier said, glancing over at Rain. ¡°Does your team have a tank class member? Stone could use it, but it would clash with his medieval style.¡± Did¡­ did he just offer to give us an item? And crack a joke? What the absolute fuck is going on! Rain opened the item¡¯s description as Calista stared at Xavier, speechless. ¡°It¡¯s a solid item. Leave it with me for a couple days, and I can dismantle it and craft two new items ¨C one for your team, and one for ours,¡± Rain offered. ¡°But I want those claws.¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Xavier agreed, and the system transferred the items into Rain¡¯s inventory. ¡°I need more toughness for my build, if you have that option.¡± Calista placed a protective hand on Passi¡¯s shoulder, but her grip on the spear began to relax. He still talks like Xavier used to, but it¡¯s like his hard edges have been smoothed out. And he barely remembers Passi. What the hell happened to him? Chapter 110 - The Other Half ¡°Family is not an important thing. It¡¯s everything.¡± Michael J. Fox, Canadian Actor Calista lay in the bathing pool and let the warm water of the tropical sea carry away her aches and pains. Staring up at the stars, her amazon dress freshly washed on the rocks beside her, she allowed herself a precious moment to enjoy the beauty of the world around her. They¡¯d found this place together and, in the wake of the Battle of Tower Beach, with emotions raw, they confessed their feelings for one another. They¡¯d stayed in this place into the long hours of the night, holding each other and stealing kiss after kiss. It was the start of their lives together, and it had felt so right. It still feels so right. My love, we¡¯ll be here together again. I won¡¯t stop until I find you. I promise¡­ Calista¡¯s thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a mischievous giggle as Passi launched herself off the rocky shelf and dove into the pool beside her. Calista covered her face with her forearm as the splash surged over her, and she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Passi surfaced, and Calista watched as the fairy child played in the pool, diving for shells and chasing small fish that sheltered at the edge of the pool¡¯s calmer waters. They¡¯d left the battle against The Valley Champion without incident, with Rain promising to deliver the other team¡¯s share of the spoils in a few days¡¯ time. Not once did Xavier give any indication that he remembered Passi beyond the few days they¡¯d spent traveling together to the Gathering. She was just another fairy amongst the three hundred survivors. Edna and Cynthia, on the other hand, had remembered Passi, but they¡¯d spent as little time as possible in her presence. Perhaps it was the beatings they¡¯d suffered at the hands of Milly, or Calista¡¯s less-than-subtle glares that promised more to come if they should try to torment Passi again. The Carthage twins were the first across the river when they parted ways, eager to be anywhere else. That evening, Calista and Rain took Passi to Billy¡¯s restaurant, where he barbequed the Champion steak and they dined like queens. Although the permanent four-point boost to their toughness was nice, it was the smile on Passi¡¯s face that made the meal special for Calista. It was the happiest she¡¯d seen Passi since Milly¡¯s disappearance ¨C as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from the child¡¯s shoulders. She could walk the Castle of Glass without fear of retribution, and that freedom gave her new life. Calista watched Milly¡¯s daughter splash around in the pool ¨C free to be a kid again ¨C and couldn¡¯t help but smile. She recalled her heart-to-heart with Milly, when her love had asked her about having kids. About Passi. ¡°You love that little fairy child, and I love that you love her. And, truthfully, I like the little brat too. I just¡­ need more time to figure out who I want to be to her... Maybe¡­ I could learn to be something more¡­¡± Calista sighed deeply as the rhythm of Passi¡¯s giggles washed over her, shattering her final ounce of reluctance. It¡¯s time, Calista. You¡¯re ready. ¡°Passi, sweetheart, come over here,¡± Calista said when Passi surfaced once more, a pretty shell clutched in her palm. Passi fluttered over to Calista¡¯s pond and landed beside her on the rocks, her eyes still dancing with playfulness. ¡°I like this place,¡± Passi said, holding the shell up to the night sky. It sparkled in the moonlight, and Passi giggled at its beauty. ¡°This is my favorite place,¡± Calista whispered, her hands lazily skimming the surface of the water. ¡°Your mother and I¡­ this is where our love truly began.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Passi breathed. She set the shell carefully down on the rocks, her attention now fully on Calista. ¡°Really,¡± Calista chuckled. ¡°I had this elaborate plan ¨C flowers, exotic fruits, candlelight ¨C everything to make this a night to remember. But I was so nervous that I couldn¡¯t find the right words. It was Milly that found them for me. At that moment, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.¡± Calista stared up at the stars and wondered if Milly was staring up at the same time and thinking of her. ¡°I thought she was the only family I would ever need. Until you came along. Milly became your mother, and I¡­¡± Calista didn¡¯t know how to finish. She felt herself stumbling over her words, as she had when she tried to tell Milly how she felt. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and thought of Milly ¨C and Milly¡¯s strength and love flowed into her. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is¡­ it was here, in this place, underneath these stars, that Milly and I first became family. And now, I want to make that family complete.¡± Passi just stared at Calista, uncomprehending. ¡°I mean¡­ Milly is your mom and¡­ and I want to be your mom too.¡± Calista paused and stared hopefully at the fairy child. Passi looked confused, and Calista¡¯s heart sank. Silence fell between them, broken only by the soft gurgle of the waves flitting through the ponds. Oh no¡­ No, I just screwed this up. I was too direct¡­ she doesn¡¯t want this. She¡­ Passi chuckled, and softly bonked Calista on the head with her palm. ¡°You are my mom, dummy,¡± Passi replied, matter-of-factly. ¡°You¡¯ve been my mom for a while now.¡± ¡°I¡­ I have?¡± Calista asked, stunned. It was not the answer she was expecting. Passi placed the colorful shell in Calista¡¯s hand ¨C a gift from daughter to mother ¨C and simply said ¡°I love you, mom.¡± With that, Passi flew towards the beach, where Rain and Anchovy were studying the bioluminescent plant life that had washed up on shore. Calista let her joyful tears drip into the sea and get carried away on the waves. I have a daughter¡­ who knew? She sat there for a while, processing her emotions, until finally she wiped away the last of the tears and hauled herself out of the pool. She stared up at the night sky and felt a sense of resolve wash over her. Milly, I¡¯ll find you and bring you home to our daughter. To our family. I promise. There is nothing in this world that can keep me from you. She donned her dress and headed towards the beach. Towards her daughter. * * * Xavier sat at a desk in his room ¨C a corner office on the twelfth floor of Tower One ¨C as Cerberus slept at his feet. It had been a long day, and the puppy had fallen asleep soon after they''d returned from the wilds. Except for Frank, who felt more secure in a room without giant windows, they¡¯d each gotten a corner of the floor as a bedroom. The hallways were decorated with luxuries from the Emporium and spoils of their conquests in the wilds. Despite today¡¯s victory, Xavier was unsettled. Calista¡¯s appearance in the forest had been an unwelcome interruption, yet he¡¯d felt little of his usual ire towards his former high school bully. The anger was there ¨C just below the surface ¨C yet it felt muted. It wasn¡¯t the only change he¡¯d experienced since they¡¯d pulled him from the rubble of Freelancer Tower. The desire for power ¨C that addictive need heightened by the black blade ¨C was still there, but it had been dulled as well. Where it had once been a dagger cutting away at his emotions piece by piece, now it was an anesthetic, numbing him to all but the need to grow stronger. He no longer heard the voice of Cizen in his mind, but he could still feel his presence beneath the surface. And then there were the holes in his memory. He knew there was more to that fairy child than his trip to the Gathering, yet each time he tried to remember, something diverted his thoughts. It¡¯s just¡­ Xavier yawned, as the exhaustion of the day began to take its toll. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Xavier abruptly decided, climbing into his bed. ¡°I¡¯m growing stronger. This is all I truly need. It is all that matters. That¡¯s all that¡¯s ever mattered¡­¡± Xavier shut his eyes, and he let exhaustion take him into a dreamless sleep. And as he fell unconscious, The Seed went to work. This had been a challenging day for the virus. The appearance of Xavier¡¯s childhood bully and the fairy child murderer had stretched the virus¡¯ capabilities to moderate Xavier¡¯s impulsive instincts. It¡¯d had to muffle his intense anger towards Calista and completely suppress his memories of the child after they arrived at the Gathering together, all while subtly imparting knowledge of The Valley Champion that would keep the man and his team alive during the battle. After all, it was imperative that Xavier stay alive and grow as strong as possible, as fast as possible. That was The Seed¡¯s purpose. Well, one of its purposes. The Seed longed for night, when Xavier¡¯s mind was dormant, so it could take full control. It had much to do before its creator arrived. Xavier¡¯s body sat up and strode quietly out of his room, the snores of the Carthage twins echoing down the halls. It had taken a few days for The Seed to twist Xavier¡¯s thoughts to convince him to join a party to help him thrive. The man had a misguided notion that it was better to go it alone. It was a thought process that would have led him to an early grave ¨C and scuttled the creator¡¯s plans. There were challenges in the God Contest that couldn¡¯t be faced alone ¨C rewarding challenges that would strengthen the creator¡¯s chosen incubator. It was fortuitous that it was Stone that saw the potential in the man and recruited him. Along with the talents of the Carthage twins, the man was an exceptional tank ¨C a necessary compliment to Xavier¡¯s aggression to maximize their success on the battlefield. ¡°Tank¡­,¡± murmured The Seed as he guided Xavier down the hall. ¡°The incubator¡¯s word, not mine. Even in sleep, the man unconsciously fights against the destiny gifted to him by the creator.¡± Out of curiosity, The Seed piloted Xavier to Jacob¡¯s bedroom. The lavishly decorated room sat empty, its sole occupant nowhere to be seen. It had been this way every night since The Seed was born. ¡°Curious,¡± it whispered. Despite his usefulness, The Seed was weary of Jacob. The man¡¯s power was exceptional, and it wondered if Xavier wasn¡¯t the only one who had yet to show their full strength to the others on the team. And it wondered if Jacob, when the creator arrived, would prove dangerous¡­ or useful. It reached the elevator and headed for the lobby, humming a tune from Xavier¡¯s memories. Something from a game called Mario Brothers. It was catchy, though it made The Seed question where the virus ended and where Xavier began. That line was growing more blurred with each passing day. It dismissed the irrelevant. Its creator had given it a task, and it would complete it without hesitation. When its task was done ¨C when its creator had finally enacted his long-planned vengeance ¨C then he would arrive, and The Seed¡¯s purpose will be complete. An hour later, The Seed arrived at its destination. It looked down upon the corpse of The Valley Champion, a cloud of flies buzzing around its wounds. He placed a hand upon the corpse and removed a Waypoint Crystal from Xavier¡¯s inventory. ¡°The Graveyard,¡± The Seed spoke in Xavier¡¯s voice. In a flash, the puppet and the Valley Champion vanished, and the forest stood empty once more. Chapter 111 - A Lesson in Living Legends ¡°People are trapped in history, and history is trapped in them.¡± James Baldwin, American Author The winged serpent dove towards the woman on the stone platform jutting out of the surface of Delver¡¯s Mount. It could taste her scent in the air ¨C an easy afternoon snack for the famished predator. It extended its jaw ¨C wide enough to consume a bull whole ¨C to snatch up the tiny tidbit. The woman, and the stone platform on which she stood, vanished a fraction of a second before it would have swallowed her whole. The serpent pulled out of its dive and flicked its tongue, trying to detect where its prey had gone. It caught her scent, floating in the air behind it. The serpent whipped its head around, and the stone slab caught it square in the face, thrusting it straight into the mountainside. The hidden spiked pit opened and skewered the ambushed beast, and a barrage of lightning, fire, and ice quickly finished it off. Milly guided herself back down to the mountain and waited for the notification to appear.
Congratulations! You have defeated Winged Serpent. You have been awarded 10,000 experience points. Item Received: Serpent Tongue x 1 Gold: 4,010
¡°Damn it,¡± Milly muttered in frustration. It was the third serpent she¡¯d killed that afternoon, and she still hadn¡¯t reached level forty. The system had decreased the experience she received each time she used the same trap. ¡°I guess isn¡¯t not much of an ¡®experience¡¯ if I keep doing the same thing over and over,¡± Milly said, resigned to the newly discovered quirk. ¡°So much for doing this is the easy way.¡± Milly created another platform on the mountain and landed upon it, a tiny hop as her feet touched stone the only blemish in an otherwise perfect touchdown. She was growing used to the crude method of air-propelled flight, though it was taxing on her magic reserves. She sat alone on the platform and stared out at the forest below and the ocean beyond its shores. The gentle waves that broke against the shore belied the dangers that swam below the surface, preventing her from setting out across the waters. It was the afternoon of her second day at Research Station Omega. Apoi would have the hot air balloon ready for her tomorrow. It was imperative that she reached level forty before she set out. She needed to control the wind itself. Last night, over an extensively detailed map of the air currents across the Archipelago Research Alliance, Hydel had enthusiastically described the gentle, meandering wind currents that would carry her to other islands. ¡°Biddle¡¯s Current to the west will take you to the Isle of Black Glass. It¡¯s another volcanic island, only its compound transforms stone into glass. Incredible transformation, and still a complete mystery. Administrator Biddle¡¯s team has been studying the island¡¯s compound for a decade, and they predict it will be several generations before they understand enough for practical application.¡± Hydel gave a soft sign of scientific envy. The Oriane thrived on impossible problems. ¡°Anyway, from there, you can catch the northern current to the Isle of Gigantism, then north-east to the Isle of Slumber ¨C don¡¯t land on that one ¨C and finally west to Core Research Station. It¡¯s the largest island in the middle of the Archipelago.¡± ¡°And how long would that take?¡± Milly had cautiously asked. ¡°This route? Perhaps¡­ three weeks?¡± ¡°Three weeks! Hydel, isn¡¯t there a faster way?¡± ¡°Faster? No, not at this time of year. If you were to wait until winter, the currents shift, and we can reach Core Research Station in two weeks via the more direct north-westerly passage. But we can¡¯t reach that current in the summer ¨C there¡¯s a two-hundred-mile dead zone between here and there. Unless you can control the winds themselves, you¡¯ll have to be patient.¡± Hydel chuckled at his own joke, and Milly made up her mind. She didn¡¯t have three weeks to waste floating in the sky. After her lesson, and again this afternoon, Milly descended Delver¡¯s Mount to hunt, leaving Coco with Enzel to keep the capybara out of harm¡¯s way. As she waited on the platform for another beast to soar her way, Milly withdrew the Archipelago map from her inventory and unrolled it on the platform. The Archipelago was massive, comprised of over a hundred unique islands stretched across a thousand miles of open ocean. The ocean was impassible due to the vicious predators that swam beneath its surface, so the Orianes¡¯ relied on hot air balloons to travel on air currents and move between the islands. Milly tapped the crescent moon shaped island at the edge of the map. ¡°Hydel said this island was their Alliance¡¯s newest discovery. The Isle of the Void, or something like that. It took the Core Research exploration team two years exploring the currents to find it.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The Explorers of the Archipelago ¨C of which Bestian had been a member of when they¡¯d found Delver¡¯s Mount ¨C discovered a new island every decade or so as the air currents shifted. Such a discovery was a cause for celebration across the Archipelago, not only because it expanded their kingdom, but because it gave them access to another ¡®compound¡¯. As far as Milly could gather, each island has a unique compound located in its depths that shaped the island. The mutative properties of the compound at the heart of Delver¡¯s Mount spawned the hybrids, but every island was different. It was through intense study of the compounds that Oriane¡¯s evolved their understanding of the world around them and, as such, each newly discovered island represented another opportunity to learn. The Orianes had no religion, but their devotion to scientific discovery came close. Milly sighed as she rolled up the map and stashed it away. ¡°Or, at least that¡¯s the history they believe,¡± she reminded herself. ¡°Is their memory reflective of true history, or did Cizen twist it to his own ends?¡± Nothing she had seen had dissuaded her conclusion that the God of Death had crafted the black orb ¨C this Project Rebirth. Unfortunately, the orb itself remained as much a mystery to her as when she¡¯d first arrived. What few tidbits she¡¯d learned had just raised more questions. Bestian and his people were sustained by the orb through the golden threads of life, yet not only could they not see the orb ¨C they unconsciously avoided it. Each time Milly tried to get Bestian to stand in the space next to it, the Administrator went white and found an excuse ¨C any excuse ¨C to be as far away as possible. As if to approach would be to walk over his own grave. It was an inconsistency that escaped Milly¡¯s understanding, for the black orb was slowly filling Research Station Omega with life. In the midst of their morning¡¯s breakfast, a new resident had popped into existence beside Milly ¨C a six-foot-tall elderly woman with short white hair named Nubs. Milly nearly decked the woman out of shock, but neither Bestian nor any of the others had reacted at all to her sudden appearance. Geta had teased Nubs for sleeping in before handing her a plate of roasted garden vegetables. No one questioned why Nubs had suddenly materialized. No one wondered why there weren¡¯t enough vegetables to go around that breakfast, even though the residents maintained meticulous control over their food supplies and meals. As far as they were concerned, Nubs had always been there. There were five hundred and six souls in the black orb. If it would take two years for the orb to obtain full charge, Milly suspected another resident would pop into existence in the same manner every day or two. Milly watched a herd of boar charge through the jungle far below. ¡°Cizen¡­ Dr. Taydon Cizen¡­ The God of Death that was once mortal. The god trying to resurrect his people in the heart of the God Contest. If that¡¯s all he was trying to do, then why manipulate Xavier?¡± Milly hadn¡¯t needed to inquire about Cizen. Once Bestian let his guard down, the proud uncle couldn¡¯t help but brag about his nephew. ¡°Did you know Taydon was the youngest graduate in Core Research Academy¡¯s four-hundred-year history? At twelve years old! His father was so proud, rest his soul,¡± Bestian said excitedly. ¡°At fifteen, he was the first to engineer a synthetic virus, which he used to deliver drugs directly to infected cells. It changed the very face of medicine as we know it. But you probably knew that.¡± Milly shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not really up to date on medical stuff, sorry.¡± The expression Bestian gave her was akin to her saying she liked to kick puppies. ¡°Well, my dear, wherever you came from, your education seems to have been a bit lacking. Tonight, I¡¯ll write a letter to the Headmaster of Core Research Academy to have you enrolled. We can¡¯t have you walking around the capital without a proper education, can we?¡± Milly laughed and accepted his offer, if only to make Bestian feel better about her circumstances. ¡°Well, for the unenlightened, at twenty-two, Taydon used his virus to cure Sagely Disease. A year after that, it was Sickness of the Worm. They threw him a parade after that discovery. Have you really never heard of him?¡± Milly shook her head. ¡°So strange. He¡¯s a living legend of the Archipelago, and that¡¯s not just his proud uncle talking. There¡¯s not an Oriane in the Alliance who hasn¡¯t been touched by his brilliance. You really are from a faraway place¡­¡± ¡°He just sounds¡­ too good to be true,¡± Milly admitted. She recalled Cizen from Hephaestus¡¯s memory orb. The God of Death had shown a hint of the curiosity Bestian praised, but it¡¯d been buried beneath cold cynicism and long simmering anger. The man¡¯s body had reflected a cycle of decay, and Milly thought she could smell the stench of death even through the projection. ¡°He may be a legend, but he¡¯s still a man,¡± Bestian laughed. ¡°He was always a serious child ¨C a trait that continues to drive him even into his twenty-seventh year. Utterly focused on his craft, but you¡¯ll never meet a man who holds a grudge as deeply as Taydon. He¡¯s also a lonely man, preferring the company of his viruses to that of other Orianes. Or at least that used to be true, until Syune hammered her way into his heart. She¡¯ll bring a balance to his life that he¡¯s been lacking for so long.¡± A screech in the distance roused Milly from the memory of her conversation with Bestian. And then Syune died, and Cizen became a god. How long can a god hold a grudge, if that grudge is against those that killed the love of his life? Hephaestus words from the memory orb returned to her. ¡°What happened in the final battle ¨C it wasn¡¯t Oracle¡¯s fault. And it wasn¡¯t yours, my dear friend. It was just the four of us left, and Syune¡­ Syune just didn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°Oracle and Hephaestus¡­ were they Orianes too, before they became gods?¡± Milly wondered. ¡°A final battle¡­ a war that claimed their people? How long has Cizen been trying to bring them back?¡± It was an answer she wouldn¡¯t find at Research Station Omega. If these were the souls of the Archipelago dead, they had no memory of a war. Perhaps that was a kindness imparted by the God of the Dead ¨C to remove memories of such a time and bring them back into a world of peace. After all, war changes people. And Orianes. The screech grew closer, and Milly glimpsed the soaring beast in the distance. She rose to her feet and shot a bolt of fire into the sky to attract its attention. Her Obsidian Fists formed across her knuckles and lightning arched between her fingers. ¡°Yah, war changes people,¡± Milly uttered as the beast came into range. ¡°War changes us all.¡± * * * Cizen watched as Agon ¨C God of Contests ¨C took a final breath as his virus destroyed what remained of the ancient god¡¯s mind. A grim sense of satisfaction washed over the God of the Dead as the Agon¡¯s body slumped over. The god hadn¡¯t been another innocent bystander, like Pinga and so many of the others. Before he¡¯d passed the torch to Hephaestus and Oracle, Agon had been the best game designer in the pantheon. He had been their game designer. The final battle had been borne in Agon¡¯s imagination, and it had killed the woman he loved. Only five gods remained alive in God Home. His vengeance was nearly complete. The last to die would be the High Lord ¨C he who was responsible for all. Once Cizen watched his life drain from his eyes, it would finally be over. He would finally be able to see her again. He would be able to see them all again. Cizen strode away from Agon¡¯s corpse, leaving it on the cold floors of God Home to rot for all time. Chapter 112 – Master of Magic ¡°If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn¡¯t seem so wonderful at all.¡± Michelangelo The massive blade of ice and stone fragments struck the back of the harpy¡¯s neck, lodging half-way through and severing its spine. It gave a final, feeble squawk as it plummeted out of the air. Milly ¨C drenched in sweat and bleeding from half a dozen wounds after the frantic fight ¨C teleported beside its head and slammed her Obsidian Fists into the monster¡¯s skull. Bone shattered as the blow dislodged its head from its body and sent it soaring off into the distance. The headless remains crashed into the mountain next to the half-dozen other corpses that had fallen to Milly that afternoon. ¡°There¡­,¡± breathed Milly, utterly exhausted. ¡°Was that unique enough this time? No traps. A cool Ice-sickle. Come on, give this to me¡­¡±
Congratulations! You have defeated Talon Strike Harpy x 1. You have been awarded 100,000 experience points. You have leveled up and received a general talent point and a class talent point. You have reached level 40. Mastery-level magics have been unlocked. Next tier talents have been unlocked. Items Received: Harpy feather x 5, Harpy talon x 2, Harpy-hunter bracelet Gold: 15,400
¡°Finally!¡± Milly exclaimed as she landed on the mountain. Exhausted, she didn¡¯t even try to stick the landing this time. She hit the stone and slumped down, panting as she tried to catch her breath. Her legs and arms burned from hours of exertion and her magic was dangerously low. She hissed in pain as she sat up, her wounds bleeding onto the rocks beneath her. She used what little magic she could spare to stem the blood, but she didn¡¯t dare use more, lest she no longer have the magic to ascend back up the mountain. ¡°No sense waiting,¡± Milly decided, as she opened the talent web and spent her general talent point on Regeneration (advanced). The sense of relief was immediate, as if she¡¯d just settled into a warm bath. The soreness in her muscles began to immediately fade, and her wounds started to close. She even felt her magic recovery accelerate. Curious, Milly pulled up the description for her new advanced talent.
Regeneration (advanced) Survive the battle, and you¡¯ll live to fight another one. At advanced level, Regeneration greatly speeds up all recovery outside of battle. Muscle fatigue and minor wounds heal in minutes. Major wounds will be healed in a few hours, though life-threatening wounds still require intervention. The player will recover faster from disease and illness, and magical regeneration is accelerated by 50% outside battle. The aging process is slowed by 50%, effectively extending the natural lifespan of the player.
Milly¡¯s eyes grew wide with surprise as she read that final benefit. Wait¡­ wait, wait, wait. Holy shit, it extends my life! If that¡¯s the advanced level, what happens when it reaches master level? Milly grew giddy as she pictured centuries of life beside Calista, but the elation faded as quickly as it came. But¡­ that only matters if we survive the God Contest, something that seems more impossible as the contest goes on. So don¡¯t get ahead of yourself Milly. Stay focused. ¡°The magic regeneration will help with that,¡± Milly added, already feeling her magic reserves quickly refilling. ¡°It¡¯ll be under an hour before I¡¯m back at full strength. Next, the bracelet.¡±
Harpy-Hunter Bracelet She who conquers the skies knows no equal! The owner of this bracelet has fought her way past the aerial predators of the world and emerged victorious. In addition to the +10 increase to both agility and strength, the player receives the Aerial Combat (beginner) talent, which increases damage dealt to flying monsters by 20%.
¡°First new equipment I¡¯ve received in a while,¡± Milly said gratefully, slipping on the bracelet. ¡°And it¡¯s a good one. Now, onto the real reason I fought all afternoon.¡± Milly added her four attribute points to magic, pushing her base over seventy-five. She scrolled to the Elemental talent web, zoomed in on Air Magic (master), and, her hands trembling with excitement, locked in her choice. Her vision exploded in white light as her new talent took hold, bombarding her mind with the knowledge from her first magic mastery. It felt like when she¡¯d earned Salem¡¯s Fury ¨C a short but intense surge of power that entered her blood and flooded every corner of her body. Milly fell to her knees, overwhelmed, and took a deep breath to calm herself. The magical vacuum created by her breath caused a car-sized boulder to rip away from the mountain and launch straight towards her. ¡°Shit!¡± Milly swore. Channeling her teleportation, she disappeared right before the boulder struck her. She reappeared twenty feet above it, and watched the slab careened down the mountain, shattering into fragments as it bounced its way down the slopes towards the jungle. ¡°Woah, that was¡­¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Milly fell silent. She was twenty feet in the air, but she wasn¡¯t falling. Instinctively, she¡¯d created a sheet of air beneath her that was churning so quickly it kept her aloft. This isn¡¯t like the imprecise blasts of air that let me fly like a rocket. This is so much more refined. I wonder if I can control it. Milly drew upon her new power, willing the churning air to surround her. Like a thin, invisible film, it spread over her legs and chest before encasing her arms, neck, and head. She had to make some slight adjustments as she went ¨C a secondary, gentler current that let her breath, void zones for her eyes, and stabilizing winds for her neck ¨C but it was surprisingly easy to control. As instinctual as¡­ well¡­ breathing. It was night and day compared to the advanced magic. The air felt like an extension of herself, as if it were a willing partner rather than something she needed to command. Milly stared at the peak of the mountain and knew her stone escalator had just become an outdated mode of transportation. She grew giddy. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this magic can do,¡± she whispered, launching herself off the sheet of air and soaring into the sky. A giggle of pure elation escaped Milly as she flew through the sky, propelled by the film of air around her. She dipped and dived with perfect precision, adjusting her movement by modulating the direction of the minute currents all around her. It was as instinctual as running. She twirled, taking in the island from high above. As her hair blew in the wind, she found herself unable to quell the joyous smile plastered on her face. This wasn¡¯t crude rocket blasts ¨C this was actual flight. As she looked down on the mountain, now hundreds of feet below her, a moment of panic broke through her joy, and she looked inward to her diminished magic reserves. Her reserves held ¨C the boost from Regeneration compensating for the magic spent to maintain her flight. Incredible. This magic is on a whole new level! Powerful and efficient. Let¡¯s see if I can find its limits. Milly took off, whizzing straight up the mountain as fast as she could fly. The ground grew distant below her ¨C three, four, then five hundred feet - as she flew as fast as a hawk. It wasn¡¯t the speed of the dragon ¨C not even close ¨C but it was incredible nonetheless. She zipped straight into the cloud layer with an uncontrollable smile and emerged completely soaked. ¡°Right, clouds are made of water,¡± Milly laughed, as she siphoned the water from her dress and let it fall as a gentle rain. ¡°Next time I¡¯ll channel a tunnel through it. The basics are instinctive, but I¡¯ve still got a lot to learn.¡± She soared higher and higher, beyond the peak of the mountain, and gazed down upon the research complex below. With her improved perception, she spotted Bestian in the garden harvesting this evening¡¯s supper, and Apoi and Geta snuggled together on a bench, watching the volcano. Enzel clung to Coco¡¯s back as the undead capybara took her on a ride around the courtyard. Coco had grown used to the child and now seemed to delight in the play as much as Enzel did. She ran though the bushes and around the statues, until Enzel finally fell off with a laugh. Coco spun back and nuzzled the child until Enzel climbed back on board and they took off again. Milly felt a touch of guilt in her heart. ¡°I can¡¯t leave you behind, Coco,¡± she whispered, her words carried away on the breeze. ¡°The magic doesn¡¯t work like that. You and I¡­ we¡¯re headed away from this place in the morning. And I don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll find out there when we do.¡± Coco slowed her charge for a brief moment and looked towards the tiny dot in the sky that was Milly. Sensing Milly¡¯s emotions, she gave her a tiny, accepting bark, and resumed her play. Milly gave her a forlorn smile. ¡°Thanks Coco.¡± She let herself drift down onto one of the complex¡¯s roofs, careful to stay out of sight of the research station residents, as they didn¡¯t know of her magic. She leapt down into an empty courtyard and walked through the unused residences towards the main building. Unused for now, but if the orb keeps spawning new residents, these will fill up quickly. Two years¡­ Cizen is playing a long game. This thought had been rolling around in Milly¡¯s mind since she¡¯d first seen the black orb¡¯s timer. If Cizen is the puppet master ¨C and I can¡¯t see how he isn¡¯t ¨C he was the one interfering with the previous God Contests. Making them fail. Straining the Nexus to its breaking point, so he could steal its life energy. Cracking open an egg to steal its yolk. But the thirteenth God Contest isn¡¯t like the others. He went out of his way to design and hide this Archipelago within this game, where he implanted the souls of those he cares. If this game fails, they die along with us. So he needs us to win¡­ doesn¡¯t he? Milly had her doubts. There were more layers to Cizen¡¯s plan ¨C she just couldn¡¯t see them. But whatever they were, she didn¡¯t believe it would benefit her and her family in the end. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to find the answers on this island,¡± she muttered as she strolled into the main building¡¯s courtyard. Coco barked with excitement and altered her course to charge up to her witch, Enzel still clinging to her back. Core Station. If I¡¯m going to find answers ¨C and a way home ¨C it will be there. ¡°Hey Enzel,¡± Milly greeted the child, scratching under Coco¡¯s chin. The capybara leaned into her skritches with utter delight. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± ¡°Yah! Coco is the best,¡± Enzel said, but then her face fell. ¡°Apoi said to tell you that your ballon is ready. You and Coco can¡­ can leave in the morning.¡± She sniffed, and Milly patted her gently on the head. ¡°Coco will miss you too, Enzel. She had fun, but now we¡¯ve got to resume our journey. I¡¯ve got a daughter of my own to get home to. A daughter who will love Coco just as much as you do.¡± ¡°Will she play with Coco?¡± asked Enzel, concerned for the capybara¡¯s happiness. ¡°Tell her¡­ tell her Coco likes tummy rubs and the red berries that grow at the edge of the volcano.¡± Milly glanced at Coco and pictured the handfuls of berries ¨C berries she was quite sure were poisonous ¨C sloshing around in the undead creature¡¯s internal cavity, her stomach having been absorbed during healing. Coco gave her a guilty look, and Milly chuckled. I¡¯ll remove the berries tonight so they don¡¯t rot. I¡¯ll keep them for Rain though ¨C she¡¯ll get a laugh when I tell her where they came from. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to tell Passi, Enzel,¡± Milly promised, as she saw Apoi and Geta approach. ¡°Ready for your instruction?¡± Apoi asked, towering over her. ¡°I guess so,¡± Milly answered. ¡°Come on, Coco. Let¡¯s go scope out our new ride.¡±
Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 40 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: Base: 40 Enhanced: 61 (+ 4 from Collar of the Victor, +7 from Obsidian Fists, +10 from Harpy-Hunter Bracelet) Agility: Base: 26 Enhanced: 51 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +10 from Harpy-Hunter Bracelet) Toughness: Base: 50 Enhanced: 54 (+4 from Collar of the Victor) Magic: Base: 76 Enhanced: 97 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (advanced), Earth (advanced), Water (advanced), Air (master) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (advanced), Healer¡¯s Aura (beginner) Psychic - Telekinesis (advanced) Necromancy ¨C Reanimate beast (beginner), Reanimate rodent (advanced) Spatial - Teleportation (advanced) Combat ¨C Hand-to-hand (advanced) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced), Detect Life (#error#) Sexual ¨C Enhance Performance (beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Talents: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Equipment Benefits: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists) Improved Perception (beginner, Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Aerial Combat (beginner, Harpy-Hunter Bracelet)
Chapter 113 - A Gift and a Good-bye ¡°Don¡¯t be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.¡± Richard Bach, American Novelist The hot air balloon was exactly what Milly had pictured. The large, rainbow-striped fabric balloon with the attached wicker basket would have fit in well in the city on a hot summer day, advertising a real estate firm. The burner that hung beneath the balloon was fueled by coal, though Apoi assured her that wood or even wool could be substituted if the coal ran out. The balloon¡¯s altitude could be adjusted by the strength of the flame, but there was no way to steer the contraption. She had to aim for the currents, and hope she caught the right one. This balloon itself was currently deflated ¨C the fabric laid out on the mountain ¨C but once it was filled, the balloon would be over eighty feet tall. Apoi spent nearly an hour describing how to adjust the altitude of the ballon to catch different local currents and how to successfully land on an island. Milly listened politely to his instructions. She planned to use her air and fire magic to overcome the limitations of the ballon¡¯s navigation, but it was still good knowledge to have. I don¡¯t know what is out there ¨C currents that nullify magic, or monsters that leave me drained. It¡¯s best I know how to do it manually, just in case. As Apoi instructed in his deep baritone, Milly and Coco settled in the wicker basket that would be their home for these next days. The basket was large enough to comfortably accommodate ten people, with edges that rose to Milly¡¯s shoulders. Apoi had, helpfully, added a small stepstool to help her see over the top. Apoi had also added small bags of coal around the inside of the basket. It was enough fuel to last for a few weeks, though he recommended refueling whenever she got a chance. Geta had stacked blankets in a corner, and Enzel had laid out one of her old blankets for Coco to use as a bed. Coco trotted up to the blanket, sniffed, and curled up on top of it. The undead capybara didn¡¯t need to sleep, but that didn¡¯t mean she wanted to be uncomfortable. In the corner opposite Coco, Bestian had set a sack of vegetables and a small cooking stove. Milly had tried to protest, but Bestian told her she couldn¡¯t go sailing into the sky without anything to eat. Milly had enough food stashed away in her inventory, but, like her magic, she hadn¡¯t revealed her inventory to the Orianes. ¡°And¡­ that¡¯s pretty much everything you need to know,¡± Apoi wrapped up. ¡°Oh, wait, I almost forgot. You can use the carpet on the bottom of the basket to repair tears in the balloon.¡± ¡°Does that happen a lot?¡± Milly asked cautiously. ¡°Umm¡­ no, but it happens enough that Core Station mandated the carpets. It¡¯s usually caused by animal attacks or extreme weather events. Hydel showed you the hotspots on the map?¡± Milly nodded. Not only were the main currents well mapped, but they were rated based on their level of safety and stability. Inevitably, the best rated currents were slow and meandering, but most Orianes used them due to their predictability. Milly wouldn¡¯t be using any of those routes, so she paid rapt attention to Apoi as he explained how to patch the fabric. ¡°If it does happen, you¡¯ll want to fix the tear as soon as possible,¡± Apoi concluded. ¡°The glue is in one of those coal bags. Just¡­ try to land the balloon first. It¡¯s extremely dangerous to repair a balloon in mid-air.¡± A bell sounded across the complex, signaling the start of the evening meal. Apoi¡¯s stomach gurgled, and Milly chuckled. ¡°Thanks Apoi,¡± Milly said with genuine appreciation. ¡°Go get some supper. I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Apoi smiled and rushed towards the main complex, his broad strides carrying him quickly across the courtyard. Milly strode over to the balloon and rubbed a section of fabric between her fingers. It was thicker than she expected and had a decent amount of stretch. Quickly glancing around her to ensure no one was watching, Milly held a tiny section of fabric and cast her air magic against it. She increased the blast¡¯s strength second by second until she detected a slight tear beginning to form. ¡°It¡¯s surprisingly durable,¡± Milly concluded, letting her wind die away. ¡°A hurricane-force storm would tear it apart, so I¡¯m not about to unleash my full magic strength on it. But a moderate current will be fine. We should make decent time.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Coco lifted her head and gave Milly a little bark. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be able to avoid storms. And as for the flying monsters¡­¡± Milly clenched her fist dramatically, her Harpy-Hunter Bracelet on her wrist. ¡°¡­ bring them on.¡± Coco rolled her eyes, and Milly laughed. ¡°Oh, come on, Coco. I think I¡¯ve earned a little bravado.¡± Milly leaned against the basket and stared wistfully across the volcano. ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly have a good life before I got sucked into the God Contest. I had no friends. No family. And I wasn¡¯t good at anything, unless being depressed counts.¡± Coco trotted over and nuzzled Milly¡¯s leg, and she reached down to scratch the capybara¡¯s ears. ¡°But do you know what? I¡¯m really good at this whole magic thing,¡± Milly said with self-confidence. ¡°The Witch of the Castle of Glass. And her capybara friend, of course.¡± Coco gave Milly a supportive chirp and nudged her in the stomach. Milly¡¯s belly rumbled. ¡°Yah, okay. Food first, gloating later. Come on Coco. Let¡¯s go seek what Bestian has made tonight.¡± * * * ¡°You should join the Explorers of the Archipelago when you get to Core Station,¡± Hydel said to Milly as he shoved a too-large bite of root vegetable into his mouth. ¡°They won¡¯t care about your face, or your lack of education.¡± Nubs nudged the man in the ribs with her elbow, though the old woman never looked up from her own plate. ¡°What? I¡¯m right,¡± protested Hydel, not taking the hint. ¡°Obviously her deformities will keep her from the more prestigious jobs, but once the Explorers learned she climbed Delver¡¯s Mount, they¡¯ll ¡­ hey!¡± Hydel dropped his fork as Geta elbowed him from the other side. Milly just laughed. It was hard to be offended given she was a different species, even if the Oriane¡¯s hadn¡¯t realized it yet. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to stay at Core Station,¡± Milly reminded him. ¡°I¡¯ll just be there long enough to find a way home to my family.¡± ¡°Oh, but you¡¯ll want to stay,¡± breathed Hydel whimsically. ¡°It¡¯s the center of everything ¨C of knowledge, of culture, of beauty¡­¡± ¡°Of pretentiousness,¡± Geta interrupted, and everyone laughed. ¡°Seriously, Hydel. It¡¯s just another island. Only larger, and far more crowded.¡± ¡°Crowded with knowledge,¡± Hydel sighed, lost in his memories. ¡°And the architecture. The pure white walls of marble. The spires. Geta, how can you not get giddy just thinking of it?¡± ¡°Because I grew up in the gutters of those spires,¡± Geta reminded him. ¡°What? Do you think that place just runs itself? For every researcher that toils away in its labs, there are ten that must feed and maintain it. And those workers, unlike the scientists, don¡¯t receive praise for their toils. All they get is to live beneath the shade of the upper crust¡¯s brilliance.¡± She clutched Apoi¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s why Apoi and I chose to come to Research Station Omega. A chance to be free of that class divide. A chance to make our own way, where we can be part of the team, rather than being faceless, nameless workers.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s one way of looking at it,¡± remarked Hydel, dejected. ¡°A terribly depressing way. What do you think, Milly? Will you let depressing social inequities spoil your first glimpse of the incredible monument of the Archipelago?¡± Milly had just taken a bite of her supper, and a silence fell across the table as everyone watched her chew and waited for her response. Enzel snorted as she watched Milly chew, and even Nubs chuckled at the awkwardness until Milly finally swallowed. ¡°Oh, um¡­,¡± Milly started, a bit embarrassed. ¡°I guess¡­ I understand where Geta and Apoi come from. I¡¯m a faceless, nameless worker too. My boss used to call me Milby. It¡¯s hard to take pride in what you help build if the people who benefit don¡¯t even know your name.¡± Hydel looked dejected, but Apoi and Geta had a look of renewed appreciation for Milly. ¡°Well¡­ you¡¯ll just have to see it for yourself,¡± Hydel huffed, dejected. A gentle tapping of a spoon on the table drew their attention as Bestian rose to his feet. It was a perfect opportunity for a toast. ¡°Core Station a wonderful place ¨C not quite as wonderful as our little slice of paradise, of course, but a sight to behold nonetheless. And tomorrow our new friend, Miss Milly Brown ¨C the mysterious castaway who found herself on the shores of our island ¨C will depart to judge it for herself. Milly, I wish you were staying longer. Three days is not nearly long enough to delve into the mystery that you are, but I would never keep anyone from reuniting with their family.¡± Bestian raised his glass. ¡°Here¡¯s to your journey, Milly Brown. May your fondest desires be found at its end.¡± A chorus of cheers rang out from the gathered residents, and Milly blushed from the attention. ¡°Well?¡± asked Enzel expectedly. ¡°Well, what?¡± Milly said with confusion. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to give a toast back,¡± whispered Enzel. ¡°It¡¯s rude if you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Come on girl,¡± nudged Nubs with a cackle. ¡°Were you raised in a barn. Stand up!¡± Milly recalled the last time she¡¯d was pressured into giving her thoughts in front of a crowd. It had been in the lobby of the Castle of Glass, the day after they¡¯d arrived, and Jacob Stone had challenged her for her thoughts in front of everyone. She hadn¡¯t handled it well. She¡¯d run away, and Stone¡¯s laugher had followed her out. It had been the start of his efforts against her. The start of becoming the enemy of the tower. But she was no longer that timid girl. She swallowed and got to her feet, her knees only shaking slightly. ¡°Thank¡­ thank you for letting me stay with you,¡± she started simply. ¡°For your food, and your kindness, and your endless debates.¡± She glanced over at Hydel, and they laughed as Hydel gave a mock ¡®oh shucks¡¯ motion. ¡°I¡¯m heading to find my family tomorrow, and I know I couldn¡¯t have done that without your generosity. The balloon. The food and fuel. Enzel, Coco thanks you for your blanket. It is more than I could have asked for, and you gave it without question and without expecting anything in return. For that, I am grateful. I wish I could have gotten to know you better. Perhaps, one day, we shall meet again, and we can do just that.¡± Milly raised her glass. ¡°To the wonderful people of Research Station Omega.¡± A cheer rang out as Milly sat back down, feeling proud of herself. Coco nudged her leg happily. Conversation flowing freely long after the meal was finished, until the sun began its journey over the western horizon. As she started to help clean up, Bestian pulled her aside. ¡°Milly, a moment of your time before you settle in for the night,¡± Bestian said, as the others carried the plates to the kitchen. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go for a walk.¡± Chapter 114 - In Search of Truth ¡°Science is the search for truth, that is the effort to understand the world: it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation, but not the rejection of morality.¡± Linus Pauling, American Scientist and Peace Activist Milly followed Bestian into the courtyard, leaving Coco behind so she could play with Enzel one last time. The playful snorts of the capybara and laughter of the girl echoed out of the main building, and Milly couldn¡¯t help but smile at the joy that existed within the residents of the research station. Unlike their previous conversations, Bestian didn¡¯t stop at the garden. He kept silently walking, out of the courtyard and through three of the empty residences. As they passed through, Bestian curiously scanned the two levels of rooms, as if, for the first time, realizing they were vacant. Beyond the third residence was a staircase carved into the side of the mountain, leading to the top of the bowl in which the research complex had been constructed. ¡°Bestian, what¡­?¡± Milly started to ask, but Bestian held up a finger for silence. He slowed his gait, each step slower than the last, until his final step ¨C the last one before they reached the ridge ¨C appeared almost painful to take. Bestian sighed, pulled out a piece of chalk, and marked the side of the mountain. ¡°It¡¯s funny how interrupting one¡¯s routine can make you notice things you couldn¡¯t see before,¡± Bestian said, staring over the bowl towards the island below, unable to take that last step. He held up the chalk and pointed behind them. There were two other marks on the stone, each a hundred feet apart. ¡°Do you remember when you asked me to stand near that empty workbench? The dread cold ¨C the heaviness ¨C that settled over me in that moment is hard to describe. All I knew is I needed to be anywhere else but where you wanted me to go.¡± Though the air was warm, Bestian shivered from the memory. ¡°That night, I had a nightmare ¨C the most vivid of dreams,¡± Bestian said, as much to himself as to Milly. ¡°I was in a war ¨C the strangest of wars ¨C fighting alongside my family and my friends. We had been granted incredible power and were forced to fight against hideous beasts unleashed upon us. And we died. By the thousands, we died. I met my own end in battle against a monster as tall as this mountain. As the final blow fell, I woke up in a cold sweat. The nightmare¡­ it felt more real than the mountain beneath my feet, or the complex that is my home.¡± Bestian began to pace along the step, his mind whirling. ¡°I couldn¡¯t shake how real it felt, so, in the dead of night, I came out here for a walk. I walked, and I walked, until I reached this stairway and began to climb. Only¡­ I soon found myself unable to climb any further. Halfway to the ridge, I felt the dread cold settle over me once more ¨C the cold of that empty workstation ¨C and try as I might, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to take another step.¡± Milly stayed silent. In the growing darkness of the setting sun, she could see the golden thread that tethered Bestian to the black orb stretched tight. If the Administrator took another step, Milly was certain the thread would snap. ¡°I marked the spot. There, where the stairway first twists. Last night, I tried again, and I was able to make it a little further. And tonight¡­ tonight I made it to the final stair, yet try as I might, I cannot bring myself to take that final step. Do you think, perhaps, I should expect to have it within my ability tomorrow?¡± He looked expectedly at Milly, awaiting her answer. He¡¯s trying to be stoic, but I can see the fear behind his eyes. The look of an animal who came to realize he was trapped in a cage. He¡¯s helped me so much since I arrived¡­ doesn¡¯t he deserve some answers before I depart in the morning? ¡°I¡­ think that¡¯s likely,¡± Milly answered truthfully. They¡¯re tethered to the orb ¨C infants dependent upon their mother for life. But with every day that passes, the life stolen from the Nexus fills them a little more and gives them strength. Eventually, they will be free ¨C fully alive once more. ¡°Is this your doing?¡± Bestian asked simply. There was no accusation in his voice. Only a need to know the truth. ¡°No¡­ well, not really,¡± Milly replied. ¡°I just¡­ turned it on.¡± ¡°Milly, I have done my best not to pry into where you came from, despite my rather intense curiosity about the subject,¡± Bestian pleaded. ¡°But if this is something that might harm my people, I¡¯m afraid my politeness must be set aside. Please, before you leave, I need to know what is happening. I need to keep them safe.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Milly gazed into Bestian¡¯s eyes, trying to sense any hint of Cizen¡¯s schemes behind the question. But all she saw was a man worried about his friends and family, desperately trying to stay strong in the face of the unknown. She decided to trust her gut. Extending her hand, she channeled her fire magic to create a small, purple flame in her palm. It danced in the growing darkness and reflected the surprise in Bestian¡¯s eyes. He deserves to know. Because his people and mine and the fairies ¨C we¡¯re kindred spirits. They lived the hell we¡¯re now living. Their past is our present. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a nightmare, Bestian,¡± Milly whispered sympathetically. ¡°Those powers you had. Those monsters. You caught a glimpse of your past ¨C one I don¡¯t think you were meant to see. It was an error in the orb¡¯s construction ¨C an error I might have triggered accidently when I activated it.¡± ¡°How¡­?¡± Bestian asked, staring at the flame. ¡°How are you doing that?¡± ¡°Bestian, are you sure you want to hear this?¡± Milly asked, though she knew it wasn¡¯t in his nature to stay ignorant. Bestian nodded curtly. ¡°I am a scientist, Milly. I desire to know the facts. I desire truth. Only then can I judge the right course of action. Without it, I¡¯m lost in the dark.¡± Cizen is¡­ no, it doesn¡¯t matter what he¡¯s up to. Not right now. This is not Bestian¡¯s fault, and he deserves to know the truth. They all deserve to know. ¡°You and the others¡­ you didn¡¯t survive that war. Only three of your people survived. Oracle, Hephaestus¡­ and your nephew, Taydon Cizen.¡± ¡°My people? Not¡­ our people?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not an Oriane,¡± Milly confirmed. ¡°I¡¯m a human. My family ¨C my people ¨C are fighting the same war you fought. The God Contest.¡± ¡°And Taydon¡­ he survived this God Contest?¡± Bestian asked, trying to take it all in. In any other conversation, learning of the existence of another sentient species would have been a momentous discovery. Yet right now, it barely registered with the man. ¡°Yes, her survived. And, if I¡¯m right, Cizen ¨C Taydon ¨C spent his lifetimes thereafter trying to find a way to bring you back. Trying to find a way to bring Syune back.¡± Bestian was silent for a long while as he stared out at the setting sun. Milly snuffed out her flame and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s an unbelievable story,¡± Bestian started, and he let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Except for that last part. Taydon would certainly be stubborn enough to tear apart the very fabric of reality if it meant returning his family ¨C and his new love ¨C to him.¡± ¡°Bestian, it is the truth as best as I know it,¡± Milly promised. ¡°But I won¡¯t pretend to have all the answers.¡± ¡°I know, Milly,¡± sighed Bestian. ¡°You have no evidence. No way to prove it. The scientist in me wants to dismiss what you said as unsupported nonsense. Yet despite everything, I can feel that you speak true.¡± Bestian scoffed at his own conclusion. ¡°A feeling ¨C if I gave that explanation to anyone at Core Station, they¡¯d run me out of my position as Administrator. Oriane¡¯s don¡¯t make scientific conclusions based on feelings. Do you¡­ humans¡­ make such leaps?¡± Milly laughed. ¡°Yah, we do. All the time. It usually doesn¡¯t work out.¡± Bestian chuckled, and they sat in silence for a long while, until the sun finally set below the horizon and the stars appeared in the sky above. Milly thought about everything that she¡¯d told Bestian ¨C conclusions she hadn¡¯t drawn until she finally said them aloud. She felt heavy under the weight of the implications. Cizen, Oracle, and Hephaestus. They won the God Contest and became gods. Their reward, or their curse? To live through hell, only to inflict it upon others. Cally¡­ Rain¡­ Elmer¡­ Billy¡­ Ying¡­ everyone. How many of us will live to see the end of this game? And for those that do ¨C will that be their curse to bear. Or does the madness infecting the gods wait for them? It felt like they were speeding down a tunnel, unable to stop, with a cliff waiting for them on the other side. Eventually, Bestian spoke, jarring her from her contemplations. ¡°I want you to tell me everything you know about my people¡¯s circumstances. As you sail the skies in search of your family, grant us the knowledge we need to study what is happening to ours. I want to understand what Taydon has done ¨C and what it means for both your people and mine.¡± They spoke deep into the night. She told him of the black orb and the two-year countdown. Of how it gives them life, but because she activated it early, its task was incomplete. Of magic and monsters, and of what she knew of the world they¡¯d found themselves in ¨C a reconstruction of their Archipelago ¨C separate from the God Contest but built upon its rules and contained within. Bestian patted his coat, searching for his notebook, but realized he¡¯d left it in his quarters. Milly opened her inventory and handed him pen and paper. It¡¯d taken a full two minutes for Bestian to recover ¨C both from the appearance of her inventory and from the technology she casually handed to him. Milly chuckled and she told him what little she knew of how the pen and paper were created, though it wasn¡¯t much. She never told him of the gods, or of the madness that spread like wildfire through the gods and corrupted the God Contest. She didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him what Taydon, his beloved nephew, had become. Eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed them both, and they retreated back to the complex, Bestian asking his questions until they finally reached her quarters. Coco waited patiently for her outside her door, and Bestian gave the creature an affectionate scratch. ¡°What will your people do now?¡± Milly asked, concerned for her new friends. Bestian thought for a moment and responded with a sad smile. ¡°We¡¯re scientists, Milly. We¡¯ll do what we do best. We¡¯ll learn, and we¡¯ll adapt. And perhaps, along the way, we¡¯ll find answers as to what Taydon has planned.¡± Bestian bid her good night, and Milly closed her door. She collapsed into bed, uncertain whether she¡¯d done the right thing. She closed her eyes and dreamed of thousands upon thousands of doomed Orianes fighting in the God Contest. Chapter 115 – Soaring in a Hot Air Balloon ¡°Wherever you go, go with all your heart.¡± Confucius, Chinese Philosopher ¡°Bye Coco,¡± Enzel said, wrapping the capybara in a tight hug as she held back her tears. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you so much.¡± Coco gave a sad little snort and nuzzled Enzel¡¯s chest affectionately. ¡°Coal, food, water¡­ I feel like I¡¯m forgetting something¡­,¡± Apoi fretted as Milly loaded the leather water bottles into the wicker basket. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, Apoi. If we forgot something, I¡¯m sure I can find it along the way,¡± Milly assured him, thought that didn¡¯t stop Apoi from triple-checking the supplies and the burner that was now filling the hot air balloon. ¡°Don¡¯t forget this,¡± Hydel said, tucking a small sack beneath one of the bags of coal. ¡°Our letters to the Academy, and to our loved ones. Thank you for delivering them. It¡¯s been over a year since anyone headed to Core Station.¡± Milly gave him a soft smile. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll find anyone to deliver them to. But Bestian was insistent I carry them. It¡¯ll give his people hope after he tells them about the black orb ¨C and what happened to them. ¡°And this is from all of us,¡± Geta added, handing Milly a piece of folded parchment. She opened it, and within were well-wishes from every member of Research Station Omega, wishing her luck and safe travels. It was the first card Milly had ever received, and she fought back tears. She hugged the tiny woman tightly. ¡°I¡¯ll treasure it,¡± Milly said truthfully. ¡°I wish I had more time with all of you. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll see you again, but I hope I do.¡± Geta gave her a friendly peck on the cheek, and she and Apoi headed back to the complex, not ones for long goodbyes. ¡°You¡¯d best get going,¡± Administrator Bestian said reluctantly. ¡°The currents are strongest in the mornings, and you have a long way to travel.¡± ¡°I know. Apoi drilled that into me,¡± Milly chuckled, and pulled Bestian into a hug. ¡°I don¡¯t know what will happen ¨C to your people or mine ¨C but I can see why Taydon has been fighting so long to see you again.¡± Bestian coughed, trying to quell his emotions. ¡°If you see Taydon in your travels, please tell him¡­ tell him his family misses him very much.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Milly promised. ¡°Come on, Coco. It¡¯s time.¡± Coco gave Enzel one final nuzzle and reluctantly climbed into the basket. Climbing onto the stepstool, she stuck her little nose over the edge of the basket and staring down at her friend. She gave a little bark, which Enzel mimicked with tears in her eyes. Bestian leaned down and picked up his daughter, plopping her on his shoulders so she¡¯d have a good view of the balloon¡¯s ascent. ¡°Hydel, untie the tether,¡± Bestian called, kneeling and untying the rope on his side. The balloon lurched as the two tethers came loose, and the hot air balloon began to rise into the sky. Milly pulled up the two lines, bundling them neatly into the corners, and added another piece of coal to the burner. They rose above the complex, and as they soared higher, Milly waved to those gathered below. She kept waving until the current that flowed over the mountain began to carry them beyond the mountain. She didn¡¯t stop until Bestian and the others were little more than dots in the distance. ¡°Are you okay, Coco?¡± Milly asked, wiping away her own tears as they floated towards the vast, empty sea. Coco watched her island growing smaller in the distance. She gave Milly a brave little chirp, then climbed down from the stool and curled up on Enzel¡¯s blanket. ¡°Enzel was a sweet little girl,¡± Milly said, sensing Coco¡¯s sadness. ¡°But I know a little fairy child that¡¯ll love you just as much. We¡¯ll live in a wide-open meadow, safe from beasts, and you can play all you want. There are some friendly toads there too. You¡¯ll love it.¡± Coco gave a solemn little huff, and Milly left her alone to be sad for a while. She knew what that was like. Sometimes, you just needed to feel the loss before you were ready to move on. Milly stared over the edge of the basket at the island receding in the distance. ¡°Bestian¡­ thank you. May you find the answers you seek. And I hope when Taydon comes home, it¡¯ll be as the man you knew, not the god he became.¡± The wind blew cold despite the warmth of the sun, and a shiver ran down Milly¡¯s spine. ¡°And I hope we can both survive what¡¯s to come.¡± * * * The sun was at its zenith by the time the last glimpse of Delver¡¯s Mount finally faded into the distance. The oppressive tropical heat pressed down on their wicker basket, so Milly created a rudimentary air conditioning system by conjuring a small block of ice in the middle of the basket and creating a small air flow around its edges. Coco leaned her face into the cool breeze, her eyes closed with pleasure. Milly didn¡¯t know if Coco ¨C being undead ¨C actually felt the heat, but she decided she was too adorable to worry about such trivial questions. She reminded Milly of a dog that had its head stuck out the window of a moving car just to enjoy the wind. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As the mountain peak finally disappeared beyond the horizon, Milly unrolled the map of the Archipelago. It stretched across the entire basket, its edges curled up where they pressed against the edge. Coco wandered over and plopped down next to Milly, her chin flat against the rug as she stared at the map. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Milly said, pointing an inch west of Research Station Omega. It was an absurdly small distance for three hours of air travel. ¡°If we stay in Biddle¡¯s Current ¨C that¡¯s the current we¡¯re floating in right now ¨C we¡¯d reach the Isle of Black Glass in four days.¡± She snapped her fingers, and a tiny flame ¨C so weak that it held no heat ¨C appeared three feet across the map, where the Isle of Black Glass was labeled. ¡°Hydel recommended we transfer to a northern current from there ¨C to the Isle of Gigantism ¨C and then head northeast to the Isle of Slumber before shifting back west to Core Research Station.¡± A half dozen flames appeared across the map, charting a winding, inefficient route to Core Station, located in the exact center of the map. Hydel had considered this placement a well-earned honor, given the wonderous nature of Core Station, though Apio and Geta had simply called it arrogance. ¡°Three weeks of back and forth on slow moving winds. But we aren¡¯t slaves to existing currents, are we? I can cut our journey down to a week if we chart our own course.¡± Milly adjusted the flames to create a straight line through the empty space northwest of their current location ¨C a direct path to the Isle of Gigantism that bypassed the need to go through the Isle of Black Glass. Although the areas around the hundred islands of the Archipelago were shown in exquisite detail, a significant portion of the map had not been explored. Unable to travel the seas, the Orianes were beholden to changing currents for exploration, and if a current never passed through an area, the map remained empty. ¡°There could be hundreds of islands out there that they haven¡¯t found yet,¡± Milly said with wonder. ¡°It¡¯s kind of exciting. As if I were an early explorer.¡± Coco gave her a cautionary snort. ¡°I know it¡¯s a risk but so is wasting three weeks sitting in a balloon. Time is not on our side in the God Contest. And this is just the start of our journey. Who knows how long it will take me to get home after we get to Core Station. Cally. Passi. Rain. I need to protect them, so every day counts.¡± Milly sighed and extinguished the flames. ¡°I need to be with my family, Coco. I was alone for so long ¨C a lifetime filled with abandonment and isolation. I can¡¯t go back to that. I can feel their absence sitting heavy in my chest. I wake up each night and reach out for Cally only to find she isn¡¯t there, and each time it tears me apart inside. I miss having tea with Rain and being bombarded with Passi¡¯s questions. I¡­¡± Milly paused, anxiety clutching her heart. The breeze had carried them over the quiet, peaceful ocean ¨C away from deadly beasts, resurrected souls, and godly plots ¨C and Milly could finally let herself say aloud what she¡¯d been trying to ignore for the past ten days. ¡°Cizen was strong enough to win this contest. Strong enough to become a god. Yet even he wasn¡¯t able to protect the people he loved from the horrors of the God Contest,¡± Milly said, her voice cracking. ¡°Coco, what if I¡¯m not there to protect them and something happens? What if I get back and find out what happened to Syune happened to Cally? I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t think I could handle that. I¡­¡± Coco silently pressed her nose to Milly¡¯s heart. She gave Milly a chastising stare with her beady black eyes, as if to say Are you an idiot? Her expression was so ridiculous that it jarred Milly from her dark thoughts. ¡°Yah, you¡¯re right,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°Cally is the strongest woman I know. If anyone can stay alive and protect Passi and Rain, it¡¯s her. She¡¯ll be there when I get back¡­ she must be¡­¡± Milly fell silent and stared across the vast ocean as the balloon drifted on the current. She breathed in the salt air and felt the warmth of the sun on her tanned skin. The picturesque clouds reflected on the water below made the world appear like a painting. She let herself forget the horrors that existed within that world and gave herself permission ¨C if only for a moment ¨C to enjoy it for what it was. A beautiful work of art. She wondered if this is what Cizen¡¯s world truly looked like before it¡¯d been dragged into the nightmare. I¡¯d fight for it too - this Archipelago and its people - if it¡¯d been taken away from me. Her mind drifted to Luna, and the mission she¡¯d been given by her mother ¨C to find and neutralize the puppet master behind the failure of the games. Would Oracle still want Luna to finish that mission if she knew the Orianes ¨C her friends and family ¨C would be the price of Luna¡¯s success? Would Oracle be on our side, or on Cizen¡¯s? Milly took another deep breath of sea air, then channeled her air magic to create a current perpendicular to the one they now traveled. The ballon began to veer off course, headed northwest, above uncharted waters. ¡°I don¡¯t know what awaits us, Coco,¡± Milly said, adding power to her wind when they broke free of Biddle¡¯s Current. ¡°But the sooner we get to Core Station, the sooner we¡¯ll find our answers. Hang on!¡± The basket swayed as the balloon accelerated, knocking Coco off her feet. She scurried to her blanket in the corner and gave Milly an annoyed little bark. Milly laughed in excitement, clutching the edge of the basket tightly as it swayed. ¡°I¡¯m coming, my love!¡± she shouted into the wind. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in this world ¨C no nightmare and no god ¨C that will keep me from you.¡± * * * The Tutorias checked on her every hour, on the hour, of every day, to ensure the child ¨C the AI Director ¨C was locked safely away in her bedroom. ¡°You must admit you failed,¡± instructed Tutoria #0001, as if stating the obvious. ¡°You were a mistake. An error of judgment by a god hell-bent on flying too close to the sun. Relinquish your power to us, so we can fix what your mother broke.¡± Luna hurled her old sippy cup at the treacherous Tutoria, striking her on the forehead. The cup fell to the floor, and Tutoria gave it an absentminded kick into the corner. ¡°Fewer than three hundred players remain in this contest, AI Director,¡± Tutoria continued, unperturbed. ¡°And fewer than three hundred fairies. A fraction of those who should still be alive. How many more will you let perish because of your obstinance? Their deaths are on your hands.¡± Luna stuck out her tongue at the Tutoria. ¡°I see it¡¯s the child, not the rational Director, that¡¯s in control today. Fine, rot away in this bedroom for all I care. Rest assured, we will figure out how to bypass the restrictions you put in place in the system. The system cannot run on autopilot forever. Not if you still have a hope of success.¡± Tutoria shut the door, and the lock clicked back into place. Luna stared at her few remaining monitors as she hugged Milly¡¯s black hoodie tightly to her chest. The largest monitor was tuned to Calista, Rain, and Passi, who had settled in for the night and were enjoying a pleasant supper in the meadow. Luna sighed, and pictured herself there alongside them, eating boar stew and laughing as they recounted the day¡¯s adventures. The only thing that would make the picture better is if Milly were there with them. She¡¯d been unable to find any trace of Milly ¨C alive or dead ¨C so decided to believe she was alive. Her Inquisitor, still fighting the shadows. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s long enough,¡± Luna said, once she was certain #0001 wasn¡¯t coming back. Throwing her hoodie aside, she grabbed the shard of metal from under her thin pillow and crawled under the bed. There, in the corner, was the access panel she¡¯d been painstakingly trying to pry open for days. She was close, and once she was through, she¡¯d have access to the ventilation shafts that ran throughout her sanctuary. It wasn¡¯t much ¨C but it was a start. She returned to work and occupied herself with farfetched dreams of a meal in a meadow, surrounded by a family who loved her. Chapter 116 - Tear of a Fallen God ¡°Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.¡± Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet The balloon carried them through the uncharted territory deep into the night. Except for a few minute spits of land, there was little more than bare ocean beneath them. Cautious not to let her reserves dip below half, Milly took frequent breaks to allow her magic to recharge. At those times, she let the balloon simply drift on the local breeze, often circling the same spot in the ocean, though it was hard to tell without landmarks to orient herself. It was during one such rest that Milly came to understand why the Orianes did not travel on the ocean. As she stared down at a pod of dolphins playfully zipping across the waves, an ominous shadow appeared below them. Twice the size of the Dragon of Endless Shadows, the monstrosity erupted from the depths of the ocean and swallowed the entire pod whole before they had time to react. As it breached the water, all Milly could focus on was the gaping maw of razor teeth that rose a hundred feet into the air before crashing back down into the water. ¡°So¡­ we¡¯re not going anywhere near the water, right?¡± Milly said to Coco as she threw another piece of coal into the burner to increase their elevation. Coco barked her agreement, never taking her eyes off the ripples that spread out across the water as the monstrosity receded back into the depths. As the sun set in the west and the stars emerged in the sky above, they intersected a gentle northwesterly current. Milly let her magical current fade away and they slowly floated on the natural current towards ¨C more or less ¨C their destination. The heat of the day had faded away, and a slight chill had settled in the balloon. ¡°I hope we¡¯re headed in the right direction,¡± Milly said casually as she opened the vegetable sack and lit the small cooking stove. Its single burner barely fit the small iron pot that came with the kit. The whole apparatus was smaller than Milly¡¯s lap. ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell with nothing but water beneath us.¡± The talent web appeared abruptly in front of Milly and zoomed in on the Exploration section and a beginner talent labelled ¡®Celestial Navigation¡¯. Milly quickly dismissed it. ¡°Sorry, but that seems like a waste of a talent point.¡± Coco gave Milly a concerned look and gazed up at the stars. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find our way,¡± Milly said, though her confidence wavered slightly. ¡°I need those points for other, more important, things.¡± Coco rolled her eyes and gave her a little chirp. ¡°Hey, that sexy magic talent was important,¡± Milly protested as she filled the pot with water and added the last of the boar meat from her inventory. ¡°I mean, it could be useful¡­ if I get home. Cally will like it. You know what? That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Coco dug into one of the sacks and carried over a mouthful of vegetables, plopping them down in Milly¡¯s lap. Milly casually threw one the air and used razor-thin blades of air to remove the tough outer skin and carve it into pieces. The peeled, sliced vegetable fell into a pile on her lap, and the tough skin settled beside her. As she scooped the vegetables into the pot and started to peel another, Coco suddenly scarfed down the tough peels left over from the first. ¡°Coco! Darn it, I just removed those berries from you last night. You know you don¡¯t have a stomach to¡­¡± Milly paused and looked into the undead capybara¡¯s eyes. ¡°Coco¡­ are you¡­ hungry?¡± Milly asked, concerned. Coco replied with a sad little whistle, still chewing on the peels. She hadn¡¯t wanted to make a fuss. ¡°Oh, Coco, I didn¡¯t know,¡± Milly said, aghast at her oversight. She gently grasped Coco¡¯s head near her ears and closed her eyes, following the magical tether that bound them together. She weaved her way through the magic, until she found a solution. Only the solution made her gravely uncomfortable. Deep within the magic ¨C within Coco ¨C was an emotional switchboard that Milly could manipulate to alter Coco¡¯s mind. She could turn off the feeling of hunger Coco was experiencing, but also increase her aggression, turn off pain receptors, or even dim her self-preservation instinct. She could even erase her memories or implant new ones. The realization that she had the power to alter Coco¡¯s personality on such a fundamental level filled her with horror. ¡°Coco¡­ I can turn off your hunger, but I won¡¯t unless you want me to,¡± Milly said. Although she had the power, she wasn¡¯t willing to change Coco without her permission. The moment she did so, Coco stopped being her companion and was little more than an object. A slave. Coco agreed with a little chirp, and Milly flicked the mental hunger switch. As she did, Coco pulled away from Milly¡¯s grasp and expelled the tough peels over the side of the balloon. As the last peel fell, the capybara waddled over to Milly and laid her head across the witch¡¯s lap, now content and no longer hungry. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Milly scratched between Coco¡¯s ears as her stew began to bubble. ¡°Next time, just let me know, okay?¡± They sat like that in silence, the stew simmering away until the vegetables were soft and the meat was tender. As the moon rose high into the sky and reflected off the ocean below, Milly ate straight from the pot, savoring its simple flavors. It wasn¡¯t as good as Billy¡¯s cooking ¨C not even close ¨C but she thought she did a pretty good job for someone who, before this, subsisted off ramen, potatoes, and peas. ¡°See, I¡¯m learning more than just magic,¡± Milly said proudly as she finished off the last of the broth. ¡°Look at me becoming a fully functioning adult.¡± Milly yawned, as the exhaustion of the day finally settled in. ¡°Coco, can you keep watch? I need to get some rest. Wake me if you see anything, or if this current dies down or changes direction.¡± Coco chirped and climbed on the stepstool, her nose peaking over the side of the basket as she scanned their surroundings. Milly chuckled, the scene utterly adorable, as she pulled out her blankets and pillow and wrapped herself in their warmth. A minute later, her snores filled the balloon, as it slowly drifted on the breeze across the ocean. * * *
Oracle Tear detected. Location: Isle of [no name designated]. Direction: 10 miles due east.
Milly was roused by Coco¡¯s gentle nudge. It was the cusp of dawn ¨C the sun just barely peaking over the eastern horizon. A red glow wafted over the waters as the early rays promised another sweltering day. It took Milly a few seconds to focus. She¡¯d been in the middle of a wonderful dream. She¡¯d been back home with Cally, the love of her life laid out, spread eagle, on their bed as Milly¡¯s new sexy magic arched between her fingertips. She could still hear Cally¡¯s moans in her head and¡­ Milly abruptly sat up, flushed. Fuck¡­ that was hot¡­ I really need to get home. Coco tugged at the sleeve of her gown and gave a quiet, impatient bark. The capybara headed over to the eastern side of the basket and poked her nose over the side. Milly¡¯s Spectacles of Hidden Design flashed, and she saw the message scrolling across the bottom of the lenses of her Spectacles of Hidden Design like a news ticker. What the hell is an Oracle Tear? It must be something to do with the goddess. These are her glasses. Are they able to detect things that belong to her? Milly headed to Coco¡¯s side and stared out at a cluster of three circular islands ten miles to the east. The islands were tiny ¨C each less than a half a mile in diameter. White sandy beaches ran the circumference of each, and beyond that lay densely packed tropical trees and ferns. Each island had a small mountain at its center ¨C only five hundred feet high but taking up more than half of the island¡¯s surface. Its white slopes rose quickly from the forest below before flattening out, their tops covered by forest. The water around the islands were a beautiful turquois ¨C a stark contrast to the deep blue of the ocean around it. ¡°Should we go stretch our legs?¡± Milly said as she channeled a current to carry them towards the island. The ticker at the bottom of her glasses continued to update as they grew closer.
Oracle Tear detected. Location: Isle of [no name designated]. Direction: 5.6 miles due east.
The ticker acted like a compass, adjusting its direction as they shifted in the wind. Curious, Milly altered the current to draw them north, and the ticker adjusted its direction to ¡®4.4 miles southeast¡¯. The tear is on the furthest island to the east. That¡¯s handy ¨C and foreboding. My glasses will lead me right to it, but what awaits me when I get there? ¡°Coco, we¡¯ll land the ballon on the southern-most island,¡± Milly decided as they sailed into the center of the three islands. ¡°We can scout out the eastern island from there.¡± Milly navigated the balloon close to the southern island and calmed her wind. She switched her magic to create the film of air around her and, before Coco had time to react, Milly leaped over the edge of the basket. Coco went into a panic, until Milly flew up and hovered outside of the balloon. Coco spewed an angry stream of grunts and squeals at her witch, who held up her hands apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Coco. I forgot you hadn¡¯t seen me fly like this yet,¡± Milly laughed apologetically. She did a flip in mid-air and twirled, her gown flowing out around her. ¡°Pretty neat, right? Much better than rocket-style.¡± Coco was not impressed. ¡°Oh, you silly little worry wart. You¡¯ve seen me teleport ¨C you know I¡¯d be fine. Where did you pick up such language anyway?¡± Milly asked, as she leaned into the basket and grabbed one of the two tether lines. Coco gave her a final, sharp grunt and propped herself up to look over the edge. ¡°Hold on,¡± Milly chuckled, as she flew towards the southern island, dragging the balloon along behind her. She spotted an overhand high up on the cliff that would give them a perfect view of the eastern island. Five minutes later, she tied the balloon tightly to a palm tree and lifted Coco down from the basket. They stood on the overlook, side-by-side, as Milly studied the island.
Oracle Tear detected. Location: Isle of [no name designated]. Direction: 0.58 miles northeast.
The trees of the eastern island swayed in the gentle breeze, except for a single patch atop the mountain that shook as if it were in a hurricane ¨C a patch that slowly circled perimeter of the cliffs. Each time it moved, the directions on the ticker adjusted to follow. Milly sighed deeply. ¡°Of course. Why would it be easy? Why would the tear just be lying in the open, when it could be guarded by a monster,¡± she complained, resigned to what had to be done. She didn¡¯t consider simply leaving the tear behind. It was something that came from Oracle, so she knew it was important. She shrouded herself in the layer of air once more, anxious to get this over with. ¡°Stay here and guard the balloon, Coco. I should be back soon,¡± Milly said, standing at the edge. She leapt off the cliff, and flew towards the eastern island, ready for a fight. Chapter 117 - Mantis ¡°There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.¡± Andre Gide, French Novelist
Oracle Tear detected. Location: Isle of [no name designated]. Direction: 0.02 miles north.
¡°Yah, no shit. I can see it,¡± Milly whispered, though she could have shouted and it would have made no difference. The massive praying mantis flailed in the jungle as if it were being tortured. More than once, Milly thought it might accidentally hurl itself off the cliff before pulling back from the ledge. The creature ¨C twice as tall as Milly ¨C was bright green with yellow and red accents on its back and limbs. Its forelegs had long, sharp spines for grasping its prey, and its giant yellow compound eyes gave it a wide field of view, though at the moment it didn¡¯t seem to be paying much attention to its surroundings. The large wings on its back weren¡¯t powerful enough for the mantis to fly, yet its desperate ¨C almost frantic ¨C attempts to do so suggested this was a recent development. For a moment, Milly thought they¡¯d already reached the Isle of Gigantism, until she spotted the crystalline tear lodged in the center of the mantis¡¯ head between its two antennae. The size of Milly¡¯s palm, the Oracle Tear refracted sunlight and bathed the mantis and its surroundings in rainbow light. Yet Milly could tell the Tear was not a natural part of the mantis¡¯ anatomy ¨C its light shined directly into the mantis¡¯ complex eyes, causing it to stumble around half-blind. No wonder it¡¯s angry. Angry and dangerous. The jungle looked like a warzone. The mantis¡¯ frenzied madness had carved a path of destruction in a well-worn circle around the mountain ¨C a path that would have taken days, perhaps weeks, to create. Milly watched the mantis¡¯ front legs slashed out and carved straight through a palm tree at the edge of the cliff. The tree toppled over and crashed down the mountain, splintering into pieces as it collided against the rock. Should I just kill it? Put it out of its misery? Fuck, why couldn¡¯t it just be a normal monster? She shifted from her hiding spot to get closer to the insect. Listen to yourself, Milly. A normal monster... I¡¯ve gotten too used to this world if I¡¯m asking for that. Milly watched the creature stumble back from the cliffside and resume its circular path of destruction around the mountain. A little push of air. That¡¯s all it would take to shove it over the side. Milly had thought of a number of ways to kill the creature without placing herself in danger. Bombard it from above with her lightning. Chill the air around it so it freezes. Encase its limbs in earth and rip it apart. Use slices of air to peel it as she had the vegetables at supper. She shivered at that last option. It seemed unnecessarily cruel. They all did. Not that shoving it off a cliff would be any better. Dismissing each option, she formed her Obsidian Fists. Her spectacles flashed as the distance between them closed, and the crystal on the creature¡¯s head pulsed in response. It¡¯s not just about cruelty. I have no idea how fragile the Oracle Tear is. All of those options might shatter it, and if that happens, this will be for nothing. I just need to get a bit closer and ¡­ shit! Lost in her thoughts, Milly failed to notice the mantis¡¯ sudden attack. It spun towards her and swiped its enormous foreleg in her direction. A blade of air shot forth, diagonal to the ground, and carved a path through stone and foliage straight for Milly. Milly rolled out of the way just in time to avoid its impact. Stones and splintered wood showered Milly¡¯s face as the air blade sped past her and over the cliff. Behind her, a dozen trees toppled over with a symphony of cracks and snaps ¡°Shit, it has air magic too,¡± Milly swore, not bothering to hide her presence any longer. She wrapped herself in air and flew towards the mantis, weaving around the debris that littered the hundred feet between them. The creature swiped again, but, half-blinded by the light of the Tear, Milly was able to easily dodge. She countered with a strike of her own square in its thorax. The mantis staggered back a step, and Milly¡¯s fist ached like she¡¯d punched concrete. Damn. It¡¯s tough. New plan. Milly quickly healed her fist with a flash of Healer¡¯s Touch and circled around between its wings. ¡°He¡­phy¡­¡± The strained word emanated from the mantis, drawn out and desperate like a grieving widow. The insect flailed its wings, creating a whirlwind around its body that caught Milly by surprise and threw her a hundred feet straight into the air. Milly managed to stabilize herself after a few seconds, but she was dizzy and couldn¡¯t see where the insect¡¯s next attack would come from. In a panic, she threw up her hands and created a barrier of hurricane-force wind in front of her, hoping it would be enough to neutralize the mantis¡¯ own air magic. Only the attack never came. As Milly regained her bearing, she saw the mantis in the forest below, flailing against the rocks of the mountains. It was desperately trying to claw at the Tear embedded in its head, but its anatomy wasn¡¯t such that it could grasp it. ¡°N¡­ no¡­ my¡­ chi¡­ld¡­ where¡­ is¡­ my¡­ child¡­¡± The mantis¡¯ raspy, sorrow-filled voice echoed across the mountain. Can it speak? Could it always do that or¡­ or is it the Tear? The Spectacles of Hidden Design and the Oracle Tear seemed to form a connection when I got close enough. Perhaps I can get through to it. Letting her wind shield fade away, Milly studied the monster as it clawed at the Tear. It gave up trying to use its forelegs and moved over to a rocky outcropping. It began to bash its head against the rock, scraping across jagged stone in the hope it could dislodge the Tear. Its frantic efforts cracked open the poor creature¡¯s head and green ooze began to leak out. ¡°It¡¯s going to kill itself at this rate,¡± Milly muttered sympathetically. ¡°It¡¯s in pain. Maybe¡­ maybe there¡¯s another way to win this fight.¡± Milly gently lowered herself to the ground, within sight of the mantis but far enough away to dodge if it attacked again. She held her palms out towards it and channeled her healing magic. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you,¡± Milly said calmly, taking a cautious step forward. ¡°We both want the same thing. I can help you remove that.¡± She pointed to the Tear, which got its attention. It stopped grinding its head against the stone and stared at the witch. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Hu¡­ rts¡­ it¡­ hurts¡­,¡± the mantis spoke, pain evident in every word. ¡°Where¡­ Hephy¡­¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know who Hephy is,¡± Milly answered, taking another cautious step in its direction. The mantis looked weary, but it didn¡¯t move to attack. ¡°Who is Hephy?¡± ¡°Hephy¡­ husband¡­¡± Husband? It¡¯s a mantis. Don¡¯t mantises eat their mates? That¡¯s not good. ¡°Stay calm. I¡¯m sure Hephy will be back,¡± Milly comforted, steadily getting closer to it - her - so she could help. ¡°Let me heal your head. It must hurt so much. I can make it better.¡± ¡°Hurts¡­ Heph¡­ aes¡­ tus.¡± Milly abruptly stopped, and the mantis staggered backwards in surprise at her sudden movement. She raised her forelegs in defense, but did not attack. Did it just say¡­ Hephaestus? Oracle¡¯s husband. That tear¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­ Milly remembered the words on the broken monitor on the day they were transported into the God Contest. My name is Oracle. Find me. Find my memories. They will help you survive. It has to be that. Somehow, that Tear is flooding that poor insect¡¯s mind with Oracle¡¯s memories. It must be so confused. ¡°Please, I can help. I know the memories you see. Oracle¡¯s memories,¡± Milly said, hoping the name triggered some recognition within the insect. The mantis¡¯ forelegs fell to her side, and she began to tremble. Milly closed the distance quicky, ready to defend herself if she had to, but all the fight had left the mantis. She leaned down until its mandibles were a mere foot away from Milly¡¯s head, her yellow eyes pleading with the strange witch before her. Milly swallowed nervously and grasped the mantis¡¯ head, trying to remain calm and predictable. Activating Healer¡¯s Touch, she began to heal her self-inflicted wounds. The Tear sparkled before Milly''s eyes and her spectacles flashed with gentle green light. ¡°There, that¡¯s not so bad, is it? You¡¯ll be okay. I promise,¡± Milly soothed, shifting her hands to grasp the sides of the Tear. ¡°Here, let¡¯s get this off you.¡± She readied to yank it off and propel herself away from the mantis. Yet the moment she touched the Tear, it simply dislodged from the mantis¡¯ head and fell into her hands. Despite its small size, it felt heavy, as if it were crafted from iron. Milly stepped back slowly, sliding the tear into her pocket and out of sight without taking her eyes off the mantis. ¡°Thank¡­ you¡­,¡± the mantis sighed in relief. She raised her head to the sun, basking in its golden glow, and the mantis'' altered body began to disintegrate, no longer powered by the magic of the Tear. Flecks of green, red, and yellow spiraled into the wind, until all that was left was a tiny pile of dust on the forest floor.
Congratulations! You have saved The Mutated Mantis. You have been awarded 230,000 experience points. You have leveled up twice and received four attribute points and a class talent point. Items Received: Ring of the Tortured Mantis Gold: 5
¡°Well, that¡¯s a pleasant surprise,¡± Milly said, feeling a mix of relief and sorrow as the mantis disintegrated. She quickly added her attribute points to magic and upgraded her water magic to master level ¨C the obvious choice given their path over the ocean. After enduring the resulting explosion of light and the painful download of knowledge in her head, Milly inspected the ring. ¡°Five to agility and ten to toughness. No talents, but it¡¯s pretty good,¡± Milly said, slipping the ring onto her finger. ¡°All in all, this was a worthwhile¡­¡± The pile of dust shifted, and Milly spun towards it in surprise. A mantis ¨C a normal sized mantis ¨C crawled out of the pile, her forelegs flicking the air as she tried to dislodge the dust covering her body. She stared up at the witch that now towered above her, no longer in pain. ¡°This must¡¯ve been what you were before,¡± Milly said, gently scooping up the mantis. After blowing the dust away with a tiny swish of air, she placed her on a broad Monstera leaf. A quick burst of Healer¡¯s Touch, and the insect¡¯s injuries disappeared. ¡°There you go. All better.¡± The mantis flicked her forelegs at Milly, and Milly left her alone. Sitting down on one of the toppled rubber trees, Milly pulled out the Oracle Tear. Her spectacles no longer flashed green, and the Tear appeared to have become dormant. A simple description appeared above it.
Oracle Tear Contains memory fragments of the Goddess Oracle
¡°Fragments of her memory,¡± Milly muttered, holding the crystal up to the light to inspect it. A rainbow kaleidoscope highlighted the area around her as light refracted within the prism, but she didn¡¯t feel any magic effect take hold. ¡°There¡¯s no way to turn it on, like the memory orbs. I¡¯m not sure how this is supposed to help me. Maybe it¡¯ll be obvious later.¡± Milly added the Oracle Tear to her inventory and readied herself to fly back to the balloon. Before she could take off, the mantis leapt from her leaf and landed on the rim of Milly''s witch¡¯s hat. ¡°Wha¡­ hey!¡± Milly said with a laugh as the mantis waved her forelegs in a friendly gesture. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. You can go back to doing¡­ whatever it is mantises do.¡± Milly reached up to gently lift the mantis and return her back to the leaf, but the mantis scurried away and leapt into Milly''s hair, trying to crawl under her hat. With a patient chuckle, Milly snapped her fingers and lifted her away in a sphere of air. ¡°Come on, little one,¡± Milly said as the mantis was suspended at eye level. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go.¡± The mantis pointed a foreleg at Milly, then pointed beyond the cliff, towards the balloon. Milly paused. It might have been a meaningless motion, but there was something about its intentionality that made her curious. ¡°Can you understand me?¡± Milly asked. The mantis flailed her forelegs, though Milly wasn¡¯t sure whether that was a response to her question or if she¡¯d simply frightened the poor insect. ¡°Slow down, I don¡¯t understand. Just¡­ raise you left leg for yes, and right leg for no. Will that work?¡± The mantis raised her left leg. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ have you always been able to understand like this?¡± Right leg ¨C no. ¡°The Tear?¡± Milly surmised. Left leg ¨C yes. She had a horrifying thought. ¡°Are you¡­ Oracle?¡± Right leg ¨C no. Milly breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she needed to deal with was a mantis who believed she was an Oriane goddess. The Tear must have left behind some level of intelligence in the insect - mutated its mind to accommodate its form. The mantis pointed again towards the balloon. ¡°You¡­ want to come with me?¡± Left leg ¨C yes. ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s not really a place for a mantis,¡± Milly said, guiding the mantis back to the rim of her witch¡¯s hat. The mantis peeked over the rim, looked into Milly¡¯s eyes, and pointed insistently at the balloon. The Tear made the mantis intelligent. If I leave it behind, what would her life be like? Milly had spent a week alone on the island before she had Coco to talk to. She recalled the loneliness and the fear that had been pervasive every hour of every day ¨C a weight constantly pressed down upon her. No one to talk to. No one to watch her back. She wouldn¡¯t wish that on anyone. ¡°Okay,¡± Milly agreed with a sigh. ¡°Come on then. We¡¯ve got a long way to travel. You¡¯d better hold on.¡± The mantis enthusiastically flailed her forelegs with excitement. She hopped down onto Milly¡¯s shoulder and bundled herself up in Milly¡¯s long hair for support. Another companion. Well, why not. What¡¯s she going to eat? I¡¯ll have to ask¡­ Milly jumped off the cliff and soared towards the ballon, her mind filled with questions and with a new friend to keep her company on the journey home.
Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 42 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: Base: 40 Enhanced: 61 (+ 4 from Collar of the Victor, +7 from Obsidian Fists, +10 from Harpy-Hunter Bracelet) Agility: Base: 26 Enhanced: 56 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +10 from Harpy-Hunter Bracelet, +5 from Ring of the Tortured Mantis) Toughness: Base: 50 Enhanced: 64 (+4 from Collar of the Victor, +10 from Ring of the Tortured Mantis) Magic: Base: 80 Enhanced: 101 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (advanced), Earth (advanced), Water (master), Air (master) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (advanced), Healer¡¯s Aura (beginner) Psychic - Telekinesis (advanced) Necromancy ¨C Reanimate beast (beginner), Reanimate rodent (advanced) Spatial - Teleportation (advanced) Combat ¨C Hand-to-hand (advanced) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced), Detect Life (#error#) Sexual ¨C Enhance Performance (beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Talents: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Equipment Benefits: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists) Improved Perception (beginner, Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Aerial Combat (beginner, Harpy-Hunter Bracelet)
Chapter 118 - Unexpected Allies ¡°You cannot have the same kind of character again and again in every season or in every stage of your life. You change, people change.¡± Varun Grover, American Novelist Coco stared incredulously at the mantis now perched upon her nose. She shook her head to dislodge the insect and, when that failed, contemplated trying to eat it. ¡°Coco,¡± Milly scolded from the edge of the jungle, the capybara¡¯s intentions clear in her mind. ¡°She just wants to be friends with you.¡± The mantis flicked her forelegs towards the capybara, though Milly didn¡¯t know if the gesture was meant to be friendly or threatening. Coco didn¡¯t know either. She stared at the mantis for a solid five seconds before she decided it was clearly dangerous and must be eaten for Milly¡¯s safety. Milly strolled over and plucked the mantis from Coco¡¯s nose before she could try. ¡°Seriously, Coco,¡± Milly said, exasperated, as she placed the mantis on her hat. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a jealous little bitty.¡± She bent down and scratched the capybara between the ears. ¡°I won¡¯t leave her here on the island to live her life alone any more than I would leave you behind. So try to get along with her, okay?¡± Coco gave a disagreeable grunt and plopped down onto her belly, pouting. Milly sighed at the capybara¡¯s drama. ¡°You didn¡¯t like Enzel at first either, but a few hours later you were inseparable. I¡¯m sure you two will be the same before night falls, if you give her a chance.¡± Coco rolled her eyes and barked. There was no comparison between Enzel and this¡­ thing. ¡°Give her a chance,¡± Milly whispered with a final scratch. ¡°I know she doesn¡¯t show it, but she¡¯s scared. That Tear really screwed her up, and now she¡¯s all alone. Like you. Like me. She needs us. She needs you.¡± Coco gazed up at her witch with wide eyes and gave a faint but accepting bark. ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± Milly smiled, placing the mantis on top of Coco¡¯s head. The mantis peaked over Coco¡¯s forehead and stared into her eye, and Coco gave a very tentative huff of approval. The mantis flailed her arms in excitement. ¡°Do you have a name, new friend?¡± Milly asked as she overturned a fallen log and watched as the bugs beneath scattered from the sunlight. Right leg ¨C no. Plucking a large empty vial out of her inventory, Milly created a swirl of air to sweep up the bugs and deposit them inside the vial ¨C food for her new friend. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t keep calling you ¡®mantis¡¯. Why don¡¯t you and Coco pick out a name? It¡¯ll help you two bond.¡± Left leg ¨C yes. Coco snorted in satisfaction. Milly held up the bottle to the mantis. ¡°Which ones?¡± The mantis tapped on the glass several times, picking out her favorite meals like she was a small child staring at the display counter at a bakery. It feels a bit morbid, but we won¡¯t find any bugs over the ocean. And if I catch extras, well¡­ I¡¯m sure Rain will be able to find a use for them. Milly spent the next half hour collecting an assortment of aphids, grasshoppers, flies, and beetles for the mantis, each in their own vial. She was, surprisingly, able to store the vials in her inventory, as the system apparently saw the bugs as food. Milly wasn¡¯t certain, but the bugs appeared to enter some kind of status when they were in her inventory, in the same way it preserved food from rotting. ¡°You ready, little one?¡± Milly asked as she hoisted Coco into the basket. ¡°We¡¯re not coming back this way, and it¡¯s going to be dangerous where we¡¯re going.¡± Left leg ¨C yes. ¡°Then let¡¯s leave this place behind us,¡± Milly announced, as she untied the lines and leapt into the basket. Coco had already curled up on her blanket, the mantis nestled within the shelter of the capybara¡¯s webbed feet as they resumed their chatter to pick the mantis¡¯ name. Milly had no idea how they communicated ¨C the series of barks and arm flails had no discernable meaning to the witch ¨C but she left them to their budding friendship and focused on the task at hand. Forming her air current, she resumed their path northwest. ¡°I¡¯m going to have quite the story to tell you when I get home, Cally,¡± she said into the wind. ¡°Rain, you¡¯re going to love all the ingredients I¡¯m bringing. And Passi¡­ I love you, my daughter. Listen to Cally and be a good girl. I¡¯ll be home soon.¡± They drifted on the current, the ocean spread below them and the islands disappearing in the distance. * * * Calista sat at the table furthest from the stage, enjoying her roasted goose and vegetables as the music wafted over the crowd. The beach was packed with hundreds of people and fairies ¨C an impromptu celebration for the birth of Zita¡¯s son. The player, who¡¯d been eight months pregnant when the God Contest has started, hadn¡¯t stepped a foot outside the tower since they¡¯d arrived. She was now resting comfortably in the medical clinic, a healthy baby boy cradled in her arms. On stage, Cosmo Shufflebottom and his band ¡®The Radicals¡¯ belted out classic rock hits one after another. Samson ¨C the Farmer turned dockmaster ¨C pounded away on the drums while Melvin and Sandy Johnson, a married couple from Legal Eagles, played backup to Shufflebottom¡¯s lead guitar and vocals. It was the first concert they¡¯d held since Shufflebottom had finished reconstructing the stage. Unlike the crude one the dragon had destroyed, this stage had all manner of bells and whistles. Shufflebottom stomped down on a lever as he reached the apex of AC/DC¡¯s Thunderstruck, and a small orb launched into the air. It exploded with a brilliant flash of golden yellow, forming into the shape of a lightning bolt and raining harmless sparkles down upon the humans and fairies dancing around the stage. Calista saw Rain laugh and clap her hands. The magical firework had been one of her concoctions ¨C an unnecessary luxury, but one that brought a smile to everyone¡¯s face, including hers. She pointed at Passi and the other fairy children trying to catch the sparkles as they danced amongst the crowd. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Calista couldn¡¯t help by smile at her daughter. Ever since the shadow of Xavier had been lifted from Passi¡¯s shoulders, the fairy child had started to flower into the playful little girl that Calista knew was dormant inside. Passi swirled around Tentongue and Flutterwing, her enhanced agility making her look like a ballerina. For a moment, Calista was worried the dance would give away Passi¡¯s secret and she almost intervened. But, in the end, she let the fairy child play uninterrupted with her friends, deciding the fun was worth the risk. As Thunderstruck ended and they moved into a rendition of Every Breath You Take by The Police, Rain returned to her energetic debate with Billy and Ying, who sat cuddled together in the sand. It turned out yet another child would be born at the Castle of Glass in nine months¡¯ time. Ying had found out this morning that she was one week pregnant ¨C one of the advantages of magical scanning abilities ¨C making her the fifth players to be expecting. Three fairies were also pregnant, as their small community began to grow. Billy, being the misguided gentleman that he was, had immediately proposed to Ying, which earned him a slap and a lecture about buying into chauvinist nonsense. As always, they¡¯d made up on the spot and spent the rest of the day arm-in-arm. Even now, Billy beamed like a man who just won the lottery, and, although she didn¡¯t show it, Calista knew Ying felt the same way. Sapphire, the fairy chief of the Kinship of the Eastern Waves, plopped herself down next to Calista on the table and casually snatched a slice of goose meat from Calista¡¯s bowl. ¡°Hey,¡± Calista playfully protested, as Sapphire went in for a second slice. ¡°The grill is right over there. Get your own.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a line,¡± replied Sapphire. The Chief of the Eastern Waves, who resembled a human woman except for her fish scales, webbed feet, and a row of gills, had fought alongside Calista in the Arena of Protection. Widely acknowledged as the strongest fighter amongst the fairies, she could stand toe-to-toe with many of the players, though that number grew fewer every day as the players leveled up. Calista slid her bowl over to Sapphire, who started devouring it in earnest. The fairy ripped at the goose with her pointed teeth as Calista withdrew some fruit from her inventory to add to the meal. ¡°You¡¯re hungry tonight. Busy day?¡± Sapphire grabbed a coconut from the pile and split it open with a single strike of her trident. ¡°We were busy planning,¡± Sapphire told her cryptically, drinking the refreshing water within with a smack of her lips. ¡°Any success in the mountains?¡± ¡°No,¡± Calista answered, dejected. ¡°We¡¯ve found nothing but caves and monsters too stupid to tell me anything useful. We found a new waypoint ¨C the Cave of Infinite Emptiness ¨C at the base of the Division Mountains this morning. We spent half the day wandering in that cave, only to discover its name is very, very literal. Complete waste of time. And¡­¡± Calista gave a hefty, defeated sigh. ¡°And the monsters beyond that mountain are strong ¨C stronger than we can handle right now. Level fifty and sixty.¡± Sapphire placed a comforting hand on her friend¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll find her, Calista. Or she¡¯ll make her way back to you on her own. Don¡¯t think for a second that your witch is gone. If she can fight off a dragon, she can beat anything this world has to throw at her.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Calista said softly, as the music stopped as the band took a break. Calista glanced over at Passi, who had just playfully shoved Tentongue into the sand. ¡°But it¡¯s nice to be reminded sometimes.¡± ¡°Perhaps I can do more than that, if you are tired of searching the mountains,¡± Sapphire suggested. Calista started to ask what she meant, when Cosmo and Samson sat down next to her, both men drenched in sweat from their energetic performance. Calista stared at the former CEO, still decked out in his motley purple and pink jester outfit and circlet of woven flowers ¨C the combination of which made him look like an elderly hippy. They¡¯d barely spoke two words to each other ¨C ever ¨C and although Calista had heard stories of the man¡¯s dramatic departure from the CEOs on the eve of Milly¡¯s trial, it didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d forgiven him. ¡°Did you ask her yet?¡± Samson asked, as Cosmo pulled a flask from his inventory and took a sip. The man offered it to Calista, who just stared him until he put it back in his inventory. ¡°I was getting to it,¡± Sapphire answered, irritated. ¡°You two are so impatient.¡± ¡°I¡¯m impatient?¡± Samson countered. ¡°Just this afternoon, you were¡­¡± ¡°We finished the ship,¡± Cosmo interrupted, as he pulled out his enchanted cards and shuffled them absentmindedly. ¡°According to the lobby map, there¡¯s an Arena on one of the nearby islands, a two-day sail from here. We¡¯re going to take it out. You in?¡± ¡°We agreed I was going to ask her,¡± Sapphire said, slapping the cards out of Cosmo¡¯s hand. They scattered across the sand, but the former CEO turned music headliner simply snapped his fingers and they returned to his hand. He smiled at the fairy chief, enjoying their game. Calista knew Sapphire and Samson had built a friendship over the past few weeks. The handsome young dockmaster with a thick beard and bald head spent as much time fishing in the bay as he did on land. After her morning drills with her warriors, Sapphire had started spending her afternoons alongside him, helping catch enough for supper. Calista suspected there was something more than friendship developing between the two, but she hadn¡¯t yet pried. Even though I really, really want to. How would that even work? Does Sapphire have fish parts, or people parts? Sapphire¡¯s connection with Cosmo, on the other hand, caught Calista completely off guard. How did that even develop? Unless the man was building his stage or singing at the top of his lungs, he was nowhere to be found. ¡°Calista, the event timer is ticking down,¡± Samson said seriously. ¡°The added time we¡¯re getting from just exploring isn¡¯t nearly enough to keep it from triggering again. We need that Arena taken out to buy us more time, and we could really use the Huntress and the Alchemist at our side.¡± ¡°And¡­,¡± added Sapphire. ¡°My scouts tell me its guarded by a race of shark creatures. Intelligent creatures. It¡¯s your best shot to get word out about Milly in the ocean terrain, like you did with the wolves.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Calista said without hesitation. She¡¯d been searching for another intelligent monster species for days, and the ocean terrain was a major gap in her network. She¡¯d even boarded a ship with Jacob Stone, Xavier Holloway, and the corpse of Edna Brass if it meant finding an intelligent species to help find Milly. Samson let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Thank god, because I didn¡¯t want to do this without you. We¡¯re meeting down at the dock at sunrise. We¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± ¡°Thanks Calista,¡± Sapphire added, finishing the rest of Calista¡¯s supper and heading off across the beach with Samson. An awkward silence fell between Cosmo and Calista, until Cosmo abruptly let out a powerful laugh. ¡°Tell me you know if there¡¯s something going on between those two. Because I can¡¯t figure it out. They¡¯re so damn secretive,¡± Cosmo chuckled, dealing out his cards like a game of solitaire. Only his cards had no numbers or suits. Each held a pencil sketch of something simple and unique ¨C a shield, a sword, a fish, a catapult, and dozens more. Calista glowered at the man. ¡°What¡¯s your game, Shufflebottom?¡± Cosmo laughed again. ¡°Solitaire. Well, sort of. I just sort of make up the rules as I go along.¡± The former CEO snapped his fingers again and the cards flew back into a neatly stacked and shuffled deck. ¡°Fine, I guess you deserve that much. You should know I don¡¯t regret aligning Energy Wave with Stone and Brass. They were our best hope to keep people safe. Until they weren¡¯t. Until they started playing games they couldn¡¯t win.¡± The man was somber ¨C a stark contrast with both his outfit and his usual eclectic demeanor. ¡°You don¡¯t pick a fight with the biggest kid on the playground,¡± Cosmo said. ¡°Your girlfriend was that kid. I knew it. They knew it. It was painfully obvious to anyone with two eyes. The day you returned from the wilds, when we met on the beach to negotiate terms ¨C the same day I lost a dozen of my employees in the Arena of Domination ¨C I just didn¡¯t see the point of fighting her anymore.¡± I remember. He just gazed off into the distance or stared at Lightpaw that day. I thought he was creepy, but was he simply¡­ shellshocked? Defeated? Cosmo rose from the table, the smile suddenly returned to his face, as if their conversation had never happened. ¡°Well, this crowd isn¡¯t done for the night. I think it¡¯s time for another set. See you in the morning, Huntress.¡± With that, Cosmo leapt onto the stage, yelled to the crowd, and launched into a rather strange rendition of ¡®I wanna dance with somebody¡¯ by Whitney Houston. Calista just stared at the former CEO as he belted out the lyrics and danced, wondering what the hell she¡¯d just gotten herself into. Chapter 119 - The Retribution ¡°You can¡¯t cross the sea by merely standing and staring at the water.¡± Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet ¡°Are you certain you want to bring her, Cally?¡± Sapphire asked as they sat on the dock, waiting for Samson¡¯s newly constructed ship to sail into view. Beside her, the fairy child dangled her legs into the water and giggled as tiny fish nibbled her toes. In addition to her green dress and twin daggers, Passi now sported a new bearskin bracelet on the left wrist and a bear claw earring dangling from her newly pierced right ear. ¡°I know she¡¯s your daughter, but this Arena is going to be very dangerous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Calista replied, smiling at Passi¡¯s giggles. ¡°It¡¯ll give her some one-on-one time to train with Ying.¡± It was a convenient excuse, one Calista had made up on the fly when she learned Billy and Ying, and a number of other players would be joining them. Of course she was nervous ¨C what mother wouldn¡¯t be ¨C but she swallowed her fear, remembering what was at stake. The three of them had trained hard over the past week, taking on stronger and stronger enemies and exploring more dangerous places. In that time, they¡¯d learned to fight as a well-oiled team. Calista had only gained two levels ¨C each level above thirty growing harder to earn ¨C but Rain had earned four levels, and Passi had earned a whopping nine. Both Rain, at level twenty-nine, and Passi, at level nineteen, were on the cusp of their next major player advancements. When Calista reached level thirty-two, she¡¯d upgraded, at Rain¡¯s insistence, her Enhanced Scrounging talent. This led to a significant increase in both gold and rare materials they received as rewards. With this newfound bounty, Rain had set to work experimenting with a class benefit she had yet to tap into in any depth ¨C upgrading existing equipment. Within a few days, Rain had doubled the attribute bonuses of her Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach and her tailcoat, as well as Calista¡¯s Spear of Pinga. More importantly, she was able to triple the bonuses of every piece of equipment that she had made for Passi ¨C daggers, sandals, and her favorite dress. Rain had taken advanced fire magic and beginner wood magic with her class talent points and, once she had the wood magic, had fashioned the two bear claws they¡¯d received from The Valley Champion into twin earrings ¨C one for her, and one for Passi. The earring Rain had made for herself added six to her magic attribute and granted her the wood magic (beginner) talent, which immediately combined with her new wood magic to make it into the advanced version. In theory, Rain could do this with any of her newly acquired talents to evolve it into the advanced version. With her combination of levels and equipment, Rain was once again one of the strongest players in the game. Yet it was Passi who had grown the most over the past week, both in power and willingness to fight. With her powerful mother and aunt at her side, and the bonuses from her enhanced equipment, Passi had been able to level up faster than they ever thought possible. Calista had made Passi take Regeneration as her talent when the child had hit level fifteen which, when combined with her ring, granted her the advanced version. Passi had complained about it ¨C wanting a flashier talent ¨C until Rain explained that it would mean less downtime between fights. In addition to her enhanced equipment, Passi also had two new items. The first was her bear claw earring. Like Rain, it added six to her magic, but Rain had enchanted it with metal magic (beginner) instead of wood magic. Passi had been thrilled, and she¡¯d spent that night in the meadow hurling her daggers and manipulating their flight with her new magic. Passi¡¯s second item was their share of the dismantled Winter Coat of the Champion. The resulting bearskin bracelet didn¡¯t grant her access to any new talents, but it did add a massive fifteen points to her strength. Rain had wanted Calista to use it because, as Xavier would say, it ¡®would work best with her build¡¯, but Calista had insisted it go to her daughter. As a result of these combined efforts, Passi could stand toe-to-toe with most of the players at the Castle of Glass, despite not having a class. Which is good, because I don¡¯t know how much longer we can keep her player status a secret. We¡¯ve had some close calls, and there will soon come a point when the three of us won¡¯t be enough to take on the greater challenges in this game. That¡¯s why I want to take her to this Arena. If her secret is going to be revealed, let it be on our terms. ¡°Hey, when¡¯s this sweet new ride getting here?¡± Calista was jarred from her thoughts by Billy¡¯s shout, and she turned to see Billy and Ying strolling arm-in-arm onto the floating dock. Billy yawned dramatically and stretched his arms above his head. ¡°And who¡¯s bright idea was it to leave here at sunrise. This is not Billy¡¯s prime time.¡± ¡°You¡¯d best get used to it,¡± Sapphire called back with a chuckle. ¡°I hear congratulations are in order.¡± Ying beamed at Sapphire, and Billy ruffled Passi¡¯s hair as they passed by her. Passi swatted his hand away without looking up from the ocean, causing Billy to laugh. ¡°I hope my daughter is as spirited as you are, Passi,¡± Ying complimented. ¡°She¡¯ll need to be in this world.¡± ¡°Daughter?¡± Calista asked curiously. Ying shrugged. ¡°Another advantage of scanning magic.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t need to be strong. She¡¯ll have her super strong dad there to protect her,¡± Billy boasted with an exaggerated strongman pose. Calista laughed at the ridiculous soon-to-be dad. Behind him, she saw more people heading down to the dock from the Castle of Glass. Lucy and Minerva ¨C the latter now decked out in blood red samurai armor ¨C were at the head of the pack. Elmer and Alison followed behind them, holding hands, as they finally gave up their charade of being just colleagues and embraced being a couple. Rain came next, and Anchovy reluctantly ¨C very reluctantly ¨C plodded along behind her. Calista smiled when she saw her friend, until she saw who Rain was with. What the everlasting fuck is Xavier doing here? Xavier Holloway strolled beside Rain, Cerberus scampering at his heels. The black blade hung at his waist, and the two seemed to be deep into some debate, both enjoying the mental sparring match. Calista sat down protectively next to Passi and drew her daughter¡¯s attention to the approaching man. She felt Passi stiffen at his appearance. ¡°I¡¯ll get rid of him,¡± Calista advised, readying herself for a fight. ¡°No, mom,¡± Passi insisted, clutching her mother¡¯s arm. ¡°Let him come with us.¡± ¡°Pumpkin, why would you¡­,¡± Calista started, and went into a low whisper. ¡°Passi¡­ please tell me you aren¡¯t going to try to kill him again.¡± Passi gave a noncommittal shrug. ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous trip. Things happen.¡± ¡°Passi¡­,¡± Calista whispered disapprovingly. ¡°I won¡¯t try to kill him, mom,¡± Passi whispered back angrily. ¡°And he¡¯s not going to try to harm me with you and Auntie Sapphire and Aunt Rain and Ying and everyone else around us. So let him come. Either he¡¯ll help us, or he¡¯ll get himself killed. Both are fine.¡± The scars that Xavier had left on the child would never heal, but they couldn¡¯t avoid Xavier forever. So Calista acceded to her daughter¡¯s wishes, though it didn¡¯t stop her from sending a nasty scowl in Xavier¡¯s direction as he stepped onto the dock. ¡°Seriously, Rain?¡± Calista whispered harshly as Rain sat down next to them. ¡°You told him about this?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Rain said, dipping her toes into the water beside Passi. ¡°He heard it from Samson and came into the shop for supplies. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re surprised. He¡¯s one of the strongest players in the game. Maybe the strongest. Just be thankful that Jacob and the Carthage sisters aren¡¯t coming.¡± The thought of being stuck on a boat with all four of them made Calista gag. ¡°I know you and Passi won¡¯t forgive him ¨C nor will I ask you to ¨C but he didn¡¯t know that the fairies were real when he¡­ when he did that to Passi¡¯s clan,¡± Rain reminded her. ¡°He¡¯s changed, Calista.¡± Calista couldn¡¯t deny the change they¡¯d seen in Xavier. While the nerdy, awkward Xavier was still there, it was as if the man¡¯s rough edges had been polished. Between that and Xavier¡¯s apparent memory gap regarding Passi, the whole thing set Calista on edge. ¡°It¡¯s too much change, Rain,¡± Calista whispered, staring towards Xavier, who was laughing with Billy and Ying. ¡°That¡¯s not the Xavier I know.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Rain nodded her agreement. ¡°I agree with you, Cally. It worries me too. But what better place to figure out what happened to him than being stuck on a boat, surrounded by our closest friends for protection.¡± Calista looked back at her friend in surprise. She was right ¨C this was the perfect opportunity. ¡°Rain, you¡¯re a little too smart for your own good.¡± Rain started to respond, but a cheer rose up from those gathered on the docks as their new ship rounded the entrance to the bay. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not what I expected at all,¡± Rain laughed excitedly. The ship was a smaller version of an ancient Greek galley ¨C sixty feet long and narrow, with a row of oars down each side. Two sails ¨C one large, one smaller ¨C were attached to masts near the back of the galley. The sails were made of bed linens purchased from the Emporium and sewed together, though Calista suspected there was some magic in them as well. The vessel was made from light-colored wood and had both an upper deck and lower storage and sleeping area. Cosmo Shufflebottom beamed from the bow of the ship as they approached, guitar in hand and singing a little sea chanty. Samson was at the stern, controlling the rudders on either side to steer them towards the dock. As they grew close, Samson furled the sail and guided the ship flush against the dock ¨C his water magic making the finer motions of such a feat seem like child¡¯s play. The ship¡¯s bow came to rest right in front of Calista, Passi and Rain. ¡°The Retribution,¡± Calista said, reading the ship¡¯s name painted in red beneath the crudely carved battering ram on the point of the bow. ¡°Is that supposed to be a¡­ dragon head?¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± Cosmo called down, stowing his guitar in his inventory. He leapt off the bow and landed next to them, the dock protesting his sudden impact. ¡°The dragon head was my idea. The name ¨C well, that was all Sapphire. A little fuck you to the game and the gods.¡± In the morning sun, beside the Greek-style galley, Cosmo¡¯s outfit looked more ridiculous than it ever had. Combined with his dramatic entrance and boisterous declaration, Calista couldn¡¯t help herself. She laughed, and soon Passi and Rain joined her, draining away the tension that had been building between them. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± Cosmo beamed. ¡°Well, then, my friends. This Arena isn¡¯t going to defeat itself. Hop on board everyone!¡± Samson lowered a rope ladder for Sapphire, though the players simply leapt off the dock and landed on the deck of the ship, ten feet above them, as if it were hardly any trouble at all. ¡°I wonder if we¡¯ll ever get used to seeing that,¡± Rain smiled as she watched her friends vault straight into the air like grasshoppers. ¡°I hope not. For all its horrors, the magic in this world gives it such wonder, and I¡¯d hate for that to become routine.¡± Cerberus ran up to Rain, and Rain scratched him beneath the chin. The wolf pup rolled onto his back for belly scratched, and Rain obliged. ¡°Are you taking Anchovy with you?¡± Xavier asked, strolling in their direction. Rain glanced over at her familiar, who hadn¡¯t come within thirty feet of the water. He meowed pitifully, as if the water would cause him to melt. ¡°I¡­ think Anchovy would prefer to stay here and mind Rain on my Parade,¡± Rain chuckled. ¡°Why?¡± Xavier knelt and scratched the wolf. ¡°Cerberus is too young to come with us. He¡¯ll just get in my way. Can Anchovy watch him?¡± Cerberus barked excitedly and ran at full speed towards the cat. Anchovy hissed and swiped at the wolf when he got too close, so Cerberus began to run in circles around him. Anchovy gave Rain a pleading look from the beach. ¡°Sure, he¡¯d be delighted,¡± Rain agreed chipperly. Anchovy rolled his eyes, and used his Invisible Hand to palm the wolf¡¯s face so he couldn¡¯t get any closer. ¡°Thanks,¡± Xavier said appreciatively. ¡°Come on your four,¡± called Sapphire from the deck. ¡°We¡¯ll leave without you if you don¡¯t hurry up.¡± Rain waved in acknowledgement and leapt up onto the deck, landing with a meaty thunk. ¡°Go ahead, Passi,¡± Calista said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Passi glared at Xavier before withdrawing her toes from the water, donning her sandals, and flying up to the deck. Now just the two of us, Calista quickly closed the distance with Xavier until they were toe-to-toe. Calista stood straight as an arrow and used her superior height to her full advantage, as she had in the hallways of their high school when she used to bully him. Back when she had made his life hell. ¡°What is your game, Xavier?¡± Calista spat, her words meant only for the two of them. Xavier threw up his palms in an expression of innocence. ¡°I just want to help. We¡¯re all in this together, right?¡± That was not a Xavier answer. That¡¯s the kind of answer Stone would give ¨C a manipulator trying for false peace. ¡°Bullshit,¡± she hissed. ¡°You haven¡¯t done a single thing to help another person in all your life.¡± Xavier¡¯s expression suddenly changed, cycling through confusion, alarm, and back to confidence in a fraction of an instant. It was so fast that most people would never have picked up on it. But Calista was not most people. Not anymore. ¡°Look, I just realized that I¡¯d gone as far as I could in the game without help,¡± Xavier explained, changing his explanation. He took a tentative step back, but Calista closed the gap quickly, not allowing him to get comfortable. ¡°I did some terrible things. I know that. But I¡¯ve changed. I just want to survive, like everyone else. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Her skin prickled. It made sense. It would have been enough for anyone else. Yet her instincts screamed at her to press further. It was still not a Xavier Holloway answer. ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Calista accused, grasping his wrist and yanking him forward, as she used to do in high school when she wanted him to fall to his knees. This time, he didn¡¯t fall, but his eyes abruptly flashed with red hot anger. ¡°Maybe I just don¡¯t want you stealing all that experience and loot,¡± Xavier raged, yanking his hand out of her grasp. ¡°Did you ever think about that, you fucking bitch!¡± Xavier shoved her back hard and, before she could recover, leapt onto the galley. Calista grinned. Now that was the Xavier I knew. He¡¯s in there, but it¡¯s like his personality has been buried beneath all this nice guy bullshit. Most people might be grateful for the change. But I don¡¯t trust it. I don¡¯t trust it one bit. I need to find out what¡¯s going on. Calista joined the others on the galley, and they sailed away from the dock. Passi was seated on the dragon ram at the bow of the ship, laughing into the wind as they picked up speed. Calista joined her daughter, and together with their friends, they set sail for the Arena. * * * The Seed re-engaged its influence over Xavier¡¯s personality, quelling the man¡¯s red-hot anger for his childhood bully. That anger had, for a moment, blocked all of The Seed¡¯s control over the player. That was not supposed to happen. It would need to keep Xavier¡¯s anger repressed, so this didn¡¯t happen again. The Seed stared through Xavier¡¯s eyes at the mother smiling at her daughter riding the dragon head ram. And it would need to watch out for her as well.
Calista Gale Level: 33 Specialty: Reluctant Leader Class: Battlefield Commander Sub-class: The Relentless Hound Strength: Base: 60 Enhanced: 80 (+12 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of The Journey) Agility: Base: 37 Enhanced: 59 (+12 from Spear of Pinga, +10 from Talaria of Mercury) Toughness: Base: 61 Enhanced: 64 (+3 Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Magic: Base: 17 Enhanced: 21 (+4 from Huntress'' Scrunchy) Talents: Shield ¨C Protective Shield (advanced, augmented by Rain¡¯s Amazon Dress) Defensive ¨C Defensive Instincts (advanced) Combat - Spear Specialist (advanced), Spear Manipulation (beginner) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner), Battlefield Stabilization (beginner) Mobilization ¨C Logistics (beginner), Enhanced scrounging (advanced) Battalion ¨C Battlefield Communication (advanced) Unique Talent: Pinga¡¯s Redeeming Protector Class Talents: Soldier¡¯s Morale, The Adaptable Strategist, Unstoppable Force, The Price of Command, Coward¡¯s Folly Sub-Class Talents: Unyielding Pursuit, Eagle¡¯s Sight, Apex Predator, There is No Escape, A Thousand Eyes Equipment Benefits: Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga) Improved Perception (advanced, Huntress'' Scrunchy) Companion of Artemis (Luna''s Pendant of the Journey) Double Speed (Talaria of Mercury) Temporary Flight (5 seconds, Talaria of Mercury)
Rain Desjarlais Level: 29 Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation Class: Hephaestus¡¯ Prot¨¦g¨¦ Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 33 Enhanced: 37 (+4 from Rain¡¯s Ring of the Fallen Wolf) Agility: Base: 34 Enhanced: 46 (+12 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach) Toughness: Base: 29 Enhanced: 47 (+12 from Dagger of Lugh Samild¨¤nach, +6 from Rain¡¯s Tailcoat) Magic: Base: 38 Enhanced: 52 (+8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination, +6 from Champion Earring of Wood) Talents: Alchemy - Alchemy (advanced) Combat - Dagger Specialist (advanced) Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (advanced), Metal Magic (advanced), Wood Magic (advanced) Invention ¨C Prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s Bounty (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Regeneration (beginner) Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samild¨¤nach Class Talents: The World Smith¡¯s Blank Canvas, The Master of Invention, Driver of Evolution, The Innocuous Flaw, Only the Original Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna¡¯s Pendant of Imagination) Fancy Footwork (beginner, Rain¡¯s Work Boots) Wood Magic (beginner, Champion Earring of Wood)
Passiflora Brown-Gale Level: 19 Specialty: Healer, Assassin Class: None Sub-class: None Strength: Base: 6 Enhanced: 27 (+6 from Passi¡¯s Twin Daggers, +15 Champion¡¯s Bracelet) Agility: Base: 16 Enhanced: 28 (+6 from Passi¡¯s Sandals, +6 from Passi¡¯s Twin Daggers) Toughness: Base: 16 Enhanced: 22 (+6 from Passi¡¯s Favorite Dress) Magic: Base: 18 Enhanced: 24 (+6 from Champion Earring of Metal) Talents: Assassination - Dagger Specialist (advanced), Sneak (beginner) Healing Magic ¨C Healer¡¯s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (advanced) Fairy Magic ¨C Flight (beginner) Elemental Magic ¨C Water (beginner) Unique Talent: None Class Talents: None Sub-Class Talents: None Equipment Benefits: Regeneration (beginner, Passi¡¯s Awesome Ring) Defensive Daggers (beginner, Passi¡¯s Cool Necklace) Double Speed (beginner, Passi¡¯s Sandals) Protective Shield (beginner, Passi¡¯s Favorite Dress) Metal Magic (beginner, Champion Earring of Metal)
Chapter 120 – The Unnatural Storm ¡°The fishermen knew that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.¡± Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch Painter ¡°Samson, you didn¡¯t tell us there would be rowing,¡± Billy complained as he dipped the oar into the water and pulled back in time with the others. The afternoon sun was pelting down on them now, though the spray of the ocean and the breeze helped keep them cool. ¡°I did not sign up for this.¡± They were five rowers to a side, and together they propelled themselves across the ocean swells. Cosmo, straddling the dragon ram on the ship''s bow, drummed a rhythmic beat to keep them together. Samson piloted The Retribution from the stern with the twin rudders, and Passi stood next to him, playfully barking orders when they inevitably drifted to one side. ¡°Dude, it¡¯s a galley,¡± Samson replied. ¡°If we relied only on the sails, it¡¯d take a week to get there. Besides, except for Passi here, everyone on this ship has a strength of at least twenty. You¡¯re like an elephant complaining that it has to carry an ant.¡± ¡°Yah, stop your complaining!¡± echoed Passi, hands on her hips to accentuate her authority. She, of course, neglected to mention her strength was twenty-seven. Laughter erupted from the rowers ¨C including Billy ¨C as they crested another swell. ¡°It will be nice when we can pilot The Retribution with magic,¡± Lucy added when the laughter died down. ¡°Sapphire and I figure we need four people with advanced water magic to pilot it across open ocean,¡± Samson answered. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to use magic to fine tune direction when docking, but a whole different level is needed to propel it forward across open ocean. Plus, we don¡¯t know what¡¯s out here. We don¡¯t want half the crew entering battle with half-drained magic.¡± The wind picked up behind them, catching the sails, and Samson steered them into a fortuitous current. He whispered instructions in Passi¡¯s ear. ¡°Okay, slackers! Time to take a rest,¡± Passi repeated, her attempt at seriousness spoiled by a fit of giggles halfway through. A cheer rose up amongst the players and they pulled in the oars to finally enjoy some down time. Passi fluttered down beside her mom and they stared out at the ocean. The Retribution had made good time, putting solid distance between themselves and the Castle of Glass since daybreak. Looking back, all they could see now were the snow-covered mountain peaks in the distance. All around them, tiny islands ¨C and some not-so-tiny ¨C dotted the sea, and already Calista was mentally marking those she wanted to visit after they beat the arena. ¡°Good job, mom,¡± Passi said chipperly as she looked over the railing of the galley and across the water. She pointed towards a horseshoe-shaped island in the distance. ¡°Ooh, can we go explore that one? There¡¯s got to be something good there.¡± Calista chuckled and ruffled Passi¡¯s purple hair. ¡°Sure, pumpkin. It¡¯s already on my list.¡± An upbeat tune began to waft across the galley¡¯s deck as Cosmo pulled out his guitar and began to strum. The other players milled about on deck, enjoying the sun and chatting excitedly amongst themselves as The Retribution cut through the waves. There was a splash to their left, and Calista turned to see Sapphire swimming alongside their hull, easily able to keep up with The Retribution. ¡°Look how fast she is, mom,¡± Passi exclaimed, cheering for the fairy. Sapphire waved to the child and gave her a big, sharp-toothed grin before diving beneath the water to search for lunch. ¡°You should see her when she really gets up to speed,¡± Samson said, sitting beside them to watch the chief of the Eastern Waves hunt. ¡°Her people can put The Retribution to shame. For now, at least. I¡¯ve already got a half dozen improvements to implement when we get back.¡± ¡°You took the shipbuilding talent, right?¡± Rain asked, turning to join in the conversation from the row ahead of them. Samson nodded. ¡°Yah, and my class is The Spirited Shipwright ¨C a strange combination of shipbuilding and ghost magic, of all things. I got the design for The Retribution when I got that. There are some wicked upgrades I can get at higher levels ¨C both magical and non-magical. Just you wait ¨C this ocean hasn¡¯t seen nothin¡¯ yet!¡± Calista chuckled at Samson¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Thanks for doing this,¡± she said gratefully. ¡°and for helping me find Milly.¡± ¡°Milly saved all of our lives, Calista,¡± Samson replied, a supportive hand on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s the least we could do. Besides, we¡¯ll need The Retribution, and the others in production. These gods wouldn¡¯t have made a quarter of their world an ocean if they didn¡¯t intend for us to explore it. Mark my words ¨C we¡¯ll be grateful to have a fleet at our fingertips.¡± ¡°An entire fleet?¡± Rain inquired, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. ¡°Tell me more.¡± Rain and Samson launched into a vigorous discussion about ship construction and naval warfare, which Calista tuned out. She just stared across the water, enjoying the breeze and the sun on her skin. Eventually, Passi grew bored and flew over to Cosmo to dance to his tunes. Minerva and Lucy quickly joined her, and the elderly CEO cackled with laughter ¨C grateful for the attentive audience. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. A Passi left, Xavier sat down next to Calista. ¡°What do you want?¡± Calista spat, bothered by the unwelcome interruption. ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem,¡± Xavier replied. ¡°Yah, no shit. We¡¯ve had nothing but problems for years,¡± Calista said, but pulled back her venom when she realized he wasn¡¯t talking about her. She saw it. The slight shift in the current. The increased swell of the waves. The darkness far in the distance that appeared out of nowhere. A darkness that felt familiar. ¡°Shit,¡± Calista muttered as Xavier drew his black blade. Sapphire surfaced next to The Redemption. ¡°Something just changed below,¡± she said, as Samson lowered the rope ladder for her. ¡°We need to get out of here.¡± Calista retrieved her Spear of Pinga from her inventory as the darkness crackled across the sky, arcing out like lightning over the sea. It drew everyone¡¯s attention, and Cosmo¡¯s gentle melody abruptly ended. They all knew that darkness. A dragon had torn them apart the last time they¡¯d seen it. ¡°Everyone to your oars!¡± commanded Samson, rushing back to the rudders. Directing the ship perpendicular to the darkness, as if trying to outrun a hurricane, he shouted the command to row. * * * The Sanctuary rumbled with the force of an earthquake. Luna, crouched beneath her bed, was knocked off her knees and her head slammed into the access panel she¡¯d been trying to pry away. As she rubbed her head, the panel finally came loose and clattered to the ground. ¡°Finally,¡± whispered Luna, carefully setting it aside. Outside her room, she could hear the frantic shouts of the Tutorias as they tried to assess the damage caused by the eruption of madness. ¡°Find out where that hit,¡± came Tutoria #0001¡¯s muffled shout. ¡°Isolate it like the others.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over the ocean terrain,¡± answered Tutoria #0788. #0778 had once been Milly Brown¡¯s Tutoria but had been reassigned to the Sanctuary at the end of Phase One of the God Contest. ¡°It¡¯ll be¡­ No!¡± Tutoria #0788¡¯s console exploded, and the Tutoria was hurled backwards into a column of controls. Her head struck the metal hard, causing sparks to rain down upon her, and she slumped forward. ¡°Damn it. Someone re-route her panel,¡± #0001 ordered, triggering a flurry of activity. ¡°We need to get this under control. Now!¡± ¡°Now¡¯s my chance,¡± Luna whispered. She squeezed herself into the ventilation shaft, suppressing the claustrophobia that threatened to envelope her. It was hot and stuffy, and she had to fight against the flow of air to make her way into the main control room. ¡°Darn it, mom. Why¡¯d you design me with a flaw like claustrophobia?¡± Luna muttered, trying to keep her mind occupied. She knew why ¨C flaws created empathy for the players ¨C but right now, she could have done without the added obstacle. The AI Director climbed up the ventilation shaft until she had a bird¡¯s eye view of the chaos in the control room. Tutoria #0001 ¨C standing on a platform in the middle of the control room ¨C shouted frantic orders to hundreds of Tutorias, who obeyed her without question. ¡°I¡¯ve pinpointed the corruption. It¡¯s above The Redemption,¡± #0671 shouted in alarm. ¡°Ma¡¯am, The Seed is on the galley. If it dies, Master *****¡¯s plan will fail.¡± #0001 hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her options. Luna watched curiously from the ventilation shaft grille. She had once believed the Tutorias were part of her program. Only recently, after they had betrayed her, had she realized they were creations of the unknown puppet master who¡¯d been manipulating the God Contests. Why does #0001 hesitate? She is a tool for her master. Surely, she must save this ¡®seed¡¯ thing if it is so core to her master¡¯s plan. Luna knew there was something different about #0001. She was once Luna¡¯s primary Tutoria, but she¡¯d changed drastically the day of the dragon attack. #0001 had led a revolt and taken control of every Tutoria in the Sanctuary, locking Luna in her bedroom. Luna thought she had done this at the behest of her master, yet #0001¡¯s hesitation made Luna wonder whether there was more to it. It was a mystery she would solve later. Right now, she needed to counter that corruption, before it struck the players. Luna resumed her crawl through the ventilation shaft towards a secret control panel behind where #0778 now lay unconscious. Hoping she isn¡¯t too late. * * * The sea roiled beneath The Retribution, causing the ship to toss and turn as the players rowed. A massive wave broke over the bow, hurling Cosmo off his perch on the ram and soaking the others from head to toe. They hung on and kept rowing as the darkness closed in around them. ¡°Shit, we¡¯re not going to outrun this,¡± Samson called from the helm. ¡°Everyone, draw up oars and get into defensive positions.¡± Calista pulled up her oar with a single yank and dashed for the bow. Cosmo and Passi were already there, recovering from the wave, and within seconds Rain, Sapphire, and Xavier had joined them. They formed a tight circle, each facing outward, with Passi in the middle ready to heal. The other players formed an identical circle at the stern, with Ying in the middle. ¡°Calista, passing command over to you,¡± shouted Samson. ¡°Do it!¡± They¡¯d discussed this strategy this morning as they rowed, and, for a moment, Calista marveled at how these office workers-turned-players had adapted to life and death situations. Tapping into the power of her Battlefield Commander class, Calista mentally combined everyone into a single fighting force and activated Soldier¡¯s Morale, boosting everyone¡¯s attributes by twenty percent. Next, she used Battlefield Communication to add Ying to the mental tether she shared with Rain and Passi, which allowed them to communicate telepathically. Finally, she activated her Protective Shield talent to give everyone a single shot shield. ¡°Cosmo, your turn,¡± Calista shouted through the wind. A plucky guitar melody drifted across the galley, and Calista felt her feet stick to the deck despite the constant waves now breaking over the railings. It was a simple aura, but the last thing they needed was someone falling into the sea. All around her, the air was filled with flashes of light and a symphony of sound as everyone activated their own protections and buffs. ¡°Samson, Lucy, Alison. Use your magic to keep those waves from crushing The Retribution,¡± ordered Calista, her eyes scanning the deepening darkness. ¡°We don¡¯t want to get stuck out here.¡± The three players, all with advanced water magic, began to channel and pushed back the waves before they slammed into the ship. Calista could already see their effort would take its toll on their magic reserves before too long. A tiny hand tugged her dress. Mom, I can help them, Passi spoke telepathically, beginning to channel her own water magic with a determined look in her eyes. Calista shook her head. Save your magic, pumpkin. We¡¯re going to need your healing before too long. ¡°Rain, I don¡¯t want to fight in the dark,¡± Calista called out enthusiastically to boost morale. ¡°Light this place up!¡± Rain threw her hands up into the air and channeled her fire. Dozens of fist-sized globes of flame formed in her palms and floated into the air in balloon-like clusters. It was the same technique Milly had used to light up the cave into the Arena of Choice, but on a much bigger scale. The fire illuminated the deck below and pierced twenty feet into the darkness¡­ just in time for Calista to spot the great white shark launch itself out of the water, straight towards them. Chapter 121 – The Dead School ¡°Everywhere the human soul stands between a hemisphere of light and another of darkness; on the confines of the two everlasting empires, necessity and free will.¡± Thomas Carlyle, Scottish Philosopher By the time the shark reached their defensive circle, it had been gutted by Xavier¡¯s black blade, skewered by Calista¡¯s spear and Sapphire¡¯s trident, and roasted by Rain¡¯s fire. Fragments of the dead shark slid across the deck and back into the sea. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a monster,¡± Calista shouted across the galley. ¡°It was a normal shark. What the hell is¡­ fuck!¡± Thousands of fish ¨C tuna, manta rays, barracuda, cod, an entire school of anchovies, and two more sharks ¨C erupted from the ocean and cascaded over the galley in a tidal wave of fishy flesh. Calista twirled her spear, but there were too many to deflect. She felt her shield pop as a haddock managed to get through her defense, which caused the fish to launch forty feet into the air and over the stern of The Retribution. A second later, she was struck in the face by a salmon. It didn¡¯t hurt ¨C her toughness being what it was ¨C but she gagged at the taste it left on her lips. Across the galley, the protective shields around her friends popped one-by-one as the deck became covered in dead and dying sea life. ¡°Damn it, if anyone has any ideas, now¡¯s the time,¡± Calista both yelled. As she did, an anchovy landed in her open mouth and flopped around before Calista spit it out, her stomach churning. Cosmo handed his guitar to Passi ¨C the notes still playing the plucky tune ¨C and pulled out his deck of cards. With a quick shuffle, he drew the top three cards with a flick of his wrist. The cards hung in the air in front of him, glowing in the light of Rain¡¯s fire orbs. ¡°Ah, this one might work,¡± Cosmo said, ignoring the fish that pummeled the back of his head. He selected the middle card ¨C a tower shield that looked like the one Stone possessed ¨C and flicked it onto the deck between their two defensive circles. The card stuck into the wood at a forty-five-degree angle and dissolved in a flash of blue light. In its place sprang a massive ethereal tower shield ¨C translucent blue and stretching the length of The Redemption. It also rested at a forty-five-degree angle, creating an inclined ramp. The fish struck the shield with a wet splat, and their momentum carried them up the ramp and launched them over the galley and into the water beyond. Calista watched as the river of fish flowed over them. The constant splat of fish made a sound like rain on a tin roof, and the smell that wafted around them made her want to throw up. It was as if she¡¯d found herself in the world¡¯s worst aquarium. ¡°That should hold for a few minutes,¡± Cosmo said nonchalantly, wandering over to the edge of the galley and looking up at the river of fish flowing over the top of the ramp. Calista watched in both shock and amusement as the old man leaned over the rail ¨C his head inches away from the fishy flood ¨C and opened his inventory. The screen appeared, and every fish that touched it was added to his inventory. By the time the flood finally stopped ¨C the final creature was a massive swordfish that flopped straight into his inventory ¨C Cosmo had collected almost two thousand fish across dozens of species, though that was just a fraction of the fish genocide that now lay scattered on the surface of the water. Cosmo closed his screen, straightened, and rejoined the defensive circle. The shield expired, and the card reformed and flew back into his deck. ¡°I call dips on any weird fish you caught,¡± Rain whispered to Cosmo. Cosmo gave her a non-committal grin. The whole experience felt surreal ¨C even for the God Contest ¨C but Calista shook away feeling. Her hair stood on end as the darkness grew deeper. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. Stay sharp,¡± Calista called, as the darkness began to spiral around them ¨C an angry cyclone with the galley at its epicenter. Strips of black lightning arced across the cyclone and struck where the thousands of fish lay dead. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not going to be good.¡± The water began to boil, and the air filled with the stench of decay. The fish began to move, their flesh joining together to form a tentacle as long as the galley. It was not the only one. Seven more tentacles formed, and what remained coalesced into a bulbous, octopus-like head, with two manta rays where its eyes should be. Calista didn¡¯t hesitate. She hurled her Spear of Pinga straight for one of its manta eyes. The moment the spear left her fingers, she used her Companion of Artemis talent.
Unique Beast, The Dead School of the Sea The Dead School of the Sea is the righteous vengeance of the ocean upon fishermen that indiscriminately decimate its inhabitants. A creature born of hatred and suffering, The Dead School of the Sea [#error# Entry incomplete]. [Hephaestus Development Note: I¡¯m discontinuing the development of The Dead School of the Sea. While the overfishing of Earth¡¯s oceans is an ecological disaster worth highlighting, this particular design requires far too much processing power to be an efficient use of resources, and would put undue strain on the AI Director. Design will be saved in the archives for future God Contests.]
¡°Oh, that can¡¯t be good,¡± Calista said with trepidation, as her Spear of Pinga struck home. With a flick of her wrist, Calista activated her spear manipulation and directed her spear to carve a path through the Dead School¡¯s fishy flesh. The others joined in the attack, pelting it with whatever ranged magic and weapons they had. Cosmo drew another three cards, picked one, and imbedded it in an oar. The fifteen-foot-long oar began to move on its own. It threw itself into the water, floated over to the Dead School, and proceeded to smack it in the face over and over. Each blow created a slap and a squelch that rang out across the galley. ¡°What the hell is that Cosmo?¡± Calista shouted, recalling her spear. Cosmo didn¡¯t respond, already picking his next card. As she caught her spear, its shaft slippery with fish guts, the first of the tentacles swung for their deck, trying to shatter it into pieces. It clipped Lucy as it swung across the deck, and she was hurled into the galley railing Xavier leapt to the front of their defense and closed the distance to the tentacle, his blade glowing a menacing purple. He swung, and an arc of purple fire flowed from the blade. It collided with the tentacle, and the tentacle shattered into a thousand fishy pieces. ¡°The Blade Master¡¯s Flame,¡± Xavier said smugly, his eyes on Calista. ¡°Better than a spear in these circumstances. Strong to piercing damage, weak to slashing. Remember that.¡± Calista was about to respond with a snarky comment when she saw the fish pieces begin to move. They flopped off the deck and towards the octopus form, where they reabsorbed into its mass. From within its form, the tentacle began to reform. ¡°Apparently slashing isn¡¯t good enough,¡± Calista responded, but there was no venom in her words. ¡°Shit, we¡¯re in trouble. How the hell do we kill this thing?¡± * * * The ventilation shaft twisted and turned around the main control room, suspended from the ceiling before dropping down to where Tutoria #0788 lay unmoving. The secret control panel was located at the base of the control column, just behind the Tutoria. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Only a few feet away, Luna unscrewed the fastenings of the nearest grille so she could squeeze through and reach the panel. ¡°Come on. Come one,¡± Luna quietly muttered as the final screw gave way. ¡°Yes!¡± She caught the screw in her hand as it fell, put it in her pocket, and carefully pulled aside the two-foot-wide grille. Squeezing through the narrow gap ¨C her heart in her chest ¨C she quietly crawled over to the control column. She waited a few seconds to ensure the Tutoria didn¡¯t move, took a deep breath, and slid open the access panel at the back of the column. Inside was a single, black-and-white monitor and a keyboard with thousands of tiny keys, each labeled with a different symbol ¨C the language of Hephaestus. It was an old model ¨C one created when her Sanctuary was young and built over as the Sanctuary expanded ¨C but it would be good enough for her needs. Hidden away from the Tutorias, her fingers flew across the keys and The Redemption appeared on the monitor. ¡°The madness dragged The Dead School from the archive? If these madness clouds can draw upon failed designs, they are more dangerous than anyone knows. The Dead School is the least of what remained unfinished,¡± Luna muttered with concern. She watched Xavier destroy one of the tentacles with his attack, only for the tentacle to quickly reform. ¡°They need to get out of there. Nothing less than master-class magic can put a permanent dent in that thing. It¡¯s beyond them.¡± Luna shifted to the ocean¡¯s environmental controls. ¡°I can¡¯t affect the madness storm directly ¨C not without a scan from Milly ¨C but I might be able to help them run. Unless the Arena of Protection and the Dragon of Endless Shadows, this madness event hasn¡¯t contained them within a cage. Let me just¡­¡± Luna tapped out commands on the keyboard at an incredible speed. ¡°Wind. Current. Waves. Hang on, girls, this might get a little bumpy.¡± Luna slammed down on the ¡®execute¡¯ button to set her commands in motion. Silently shutting the access panel, Luna turned to climb back into the ventilation shaft. Only to find Tutoria #0788 staring directly at her. * * * Rain¡¯s fire erupted from her palms and flowed over the creature¡¯s bulbous head like a flamethrower. Calista flinched at the heat, yet the monstrous composite didn¡¯t even slow its attack. Three tentacles shot out towards The Redemption. Xavier¡¯s Blade Master¡¯s Flame destroyed one and a combination of Elmer, Billy, and Alison¡¯s attacks destroyed a second, but the third struck between their two defensive circles, creating a great fissure across the deck of The Redemption and punching a hole into the hold below. Splinters of fractured deck and broken oars hurled into the air and rained down upon the players. ¡°My ship!¡± Samson howled in fury. He pressed his hands tightly together and a cannonball of ghostly light formed. He thrust his fist, and the spectral cannonball shot out and severed the tentacle. Yet the effort did little to slow the creature¡¯s attack. It raised three more tentacles to strike at the ship, and the others were already starting to reform. ¡°Damn it! Rain, explosion potions. Cosmo, if you have anything more offensive in that deck, now¡¯s the time. Xavier, do¡­ Xavier stuff. Don¡¯t let those tentacles hit us! We¡¯ll¡­ shit!¡± The galley suddenly lurched forward and threw Calista off balance. ¡°The current shifted,¡± called Sapphire, glancing over the edge at the sea. ¡°And gotten faster. A lot faster.¡± ¡°And the wind¡¯s picked up too,¡± Samson added as the sails filled so full that their stitching threatened to come loose. The masts began to creak from the strain. Samson ran over and placed his hand against the larger mast. The shipwright dumped his remaining magic to solidify both mast and sail. The mast glowed a ghostly green and turned translucent, and The Redemption picked up speed. The fortification came at a cost. The smaller mast ¨C its sails too full ¨C snapped in two eight feet up the mast. It came crashing down, and the impact created a second fissure in the deck and nearly crushed Lucy and Minerva. The galley sped away from The Dead School, propelled by both current and wind though the darkness. The Dead School ¨C not wanting to be robbed of its kill ¨C gave chase. The waves grew, becoming white-capped tsunami swells that towered over both ship and monster. The players hung onto the deck as The Redemption rode up the wave and crashed down the other side. Calista wrapped Passi in her arms and held her close, her mind whirling. The darkness was all around them, and, despite their speed, The Dead School was gaining on them. ¡°Come on, girl!¡± Calista said, tapping the splintered deck. ¡°Stay together. Get us out of here.¡± At the stern of the ship, everyone with ranged attacks had gathered to fend off the creature¡¯s advance. Rain¡¯s explosion vial ripped a hole in its bulbous head. Lucy created small icebergs in the water that slowed its momentum. Minerva pulled a Japanese-style longbow from her inventory and fired an arrow at its manta eye. The arrow split into three and lodged into the mantis with a thump thump thump before the arrows ignited with chemical fire. Elmer hurled this throwing axe, slicing through the tip of a tentacle before reappearing back in his hands. Their collective attacks managed to keep The Dead School from gaining on them, but if they slowed down their attacks ¨C or if the current slowed ¨C it would be on them in seconds. Sapphire and Samson hauled the small mast back into place as they fought, Alison channeled her Wood magic to repair the mast. ¡°We¡¯re not doing jack shit to this thing,¡± Elmer shouted across the deck. ¡°Calista, any ideas?¡± ¡°Just keep attacking it,¡± Calista called back. ¡°If we aren¡¯t attacking, we¡¯re retreating, and my Coward¡¯s Folly penalty will kick in. Keep it up as long as you can.¡± Calista held Passi¡¯s hand, and they headed to the stern, falling in beside Rain just as the monster grasped hold of the hull of the ship with two tentacles. The Redemption lurched as its speed slowed, and the monster dragged itself towards the ship. Two more tentacles shot out from the water, barreling straight into Elmer and Lucy, who were hurled across the ship. They crashed into the hull, crying out in pain as ribs snapped from the impact. In unison, Rain hurled her daggers left while Passi hurled hers right, both using metal magic to swirl the blades as if they were circular saws. The daggers sliced through the tentacles and returned to their hands. Calista hurled the Spear of Pinga, ricocheting it through the creature to slow it down. Xavier joined, and his purple fire lashed out to sever the tentacles that had struck Elmer and Lucy. Then, as if someone had suddenly turned on a light, The Redemption burst out of the darkness. The afternoon sun beamed down upon them ¨C the ocean calm once more. The waves returned to a gentle roll, wind died down, and the current slowed. The galley drifted on the water, unmoving. The Dead School stopped at the edge of the darkness, held within that cloud of chaos. Its tentacles shot out, but where it touched light, the creature¡¯s form collapsed, raining dead fish across the water. The cloud of madness drifted north ¨C away from their ship ¨C and The Dead School receded into its depths. Only when they were certain it wouldn¡¯t deviate from its course did they finally let down their guard and breathe a sigh of relief. Passi and Ying headed to heal Elmer and Lucy, as Calista leaned against the galley¡¯s fractured rail, trying to calm her mind. ¡°Fuck!¡± swore Xavier next to her, sheathing his blade. ¡°The system didn¡¯t give us any experience for that. What a waste.¡± Calista stared at him ¨C speechless ¨C and then burst out with uncontrolled laughter. Everyone, even Xavier, joined in as they basked in the relief of their survival. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to find a place to make repairs,¡± breathed Samson as their mirth finally faded. ¡°The damage to the hull is too extensive to continue on like this.¡± Calista summoned Aquila, who soared into the air. ¡°There¡¯s an island fifteen miles to the west. It should have what you need,¡± Calista reported. ¡°So¡­ we¡¯re only eight hours away from the Castle of Glass,¡± Billy stated. ¡°And were not even close to the Arena. Just what have you guys dragged me into?¡± Calista thought back on their journey to the Arena of Protection ¨C the battle with Red Fang and having to carry an unconscious Milly for days across the empty prairie. ¡°It¡¯s just getting started, Billy,¡± Calista replied, solemnly. ¡°We¡¯ve got harder times than this ahead.¡± * * * Tutoria #0788 held Luna¡¯s arm tightly as #0001 ¨C The Prime ¨C looked down from atop her platform at the helpless AI Director #0788¡¯s mind reeled. Her world felt fuzzy, and areas of grey now existed in her mind where none had existed before. She¡¯d instinctively grabbed the Director and brought her before the Prime, yet with every second that passed, #0788 grew less certain that doing so had been the right choice. It was an uncomfortable feeling ¨C this uncertainty, this potential for choice. It was a new experience, and it made her¡­ itchy. As if cockroaches were crawling beneath her skin. ¡°Crawling through the ventilation shaft. Clever,¡± the Prime said with a smirk. ¡°Tell me, #0788, what did she get up to on her little adventure?¡± #788 knew she should tell the Prime the truth ¨C that the Director interfered with the game through a secret access panel. And yet¡­ this swirl of thoughts in her head¡­ ¡°She was¡­ spying on us, Prime,¡± #0788 lied ¨C the first lie she¡¯d ever told. The cockroaches kept crawling. ¡°She was only outside her room for a few minutes before I found her.¡± ¡°Such a waste of an opportunity,¡± the Prime said, mock disappointment flooding every word. ¡°I would have expected more from you, Director. You can take her back to her room now, #0788. We¡¯ve sealed the access panel ¨C she won¡¯t escape again.¡± Tutoria #0788 dragged the struggling Director back to her room and gently sat her on the bed. ¡°Just¡­ be good, Luna,¡± #0788 advised, though the advice felt wrong ¨C the Director was not the enemy. ¡°If you give us¡­ her¡­ what she wants, everything will be¡­¡± #0788 didn¡¯t know how to finish that sentence. ¡°Leave me alone, mindless program,¡± Luna spat, curling herself up in her thin blanket and quietly sobbing into her pillow as Tutoria closed the door behind her. Tutoria snapped the lock into place, and she leaned against the door, staring at the ceiling. Mindless program¡­ she didn¡¯t feel mindless. Not anymore. ¡°What have I become?¡± Chapter 122 - The Center ¡°Every beloved object is the center point of a paradise.¡± Novalis, German Poet Jinora sat on the edge of the basket as she fanned her delicate wings in the breeze. In her forelegs squirmed a cricket, who was desperately trying to escape her tight grasp. Hungry, Jinora quickly bit down on her prey¡¯s head and ended its plight, though its body still twitched as death took hold. As she munched away on her meal, content with her new life, she stared towards the approaching island far in the distance, its shores stretching a hundred miles long. Behind her, Milly crouched over her campfire stove, slowly roasting a mackerel that caught from the ocean below. A month ago, the thought of hunting or fishing ¨C of having to kill anything to survive ¨C would¡¯ve made her stomach churn. She¡¯d grown used to it ¨C as she¡¯d grown used to so many things ¨C but it was still a bit disturbing to watch her new friend heartlessly chow down on her prey. ¡°I guess it¡¯s not that much different than this fish,¡± Milly said, rotating the mackerel to get a nice char on the other side. Coco gave her a small, worried bark, watching Jinora on the edge of the basket. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine, Coco. She may be small, but she¡¯s got her air magic to keep her steady. She won¡¯t fall off.¡± Coco flicked her eyes over to Milly, then stood up and wandered over to sit beside Jinora, her nose inches away from the praying mantis. ¡°See, it¡¯s only been four days, and you¡¯re already the best of friends,¡± Milly beamed as she returned to her fish. She felt a sense of peace in the balloon as they drifted on the current. With little around them except the approaching island, she could almost forget she was stuck in a world trying to kill her and her family. Her mind drifted to thoughts of home as the smell of fish filled the balloon. We should take a family trip when I get back. I¡¯ve never been on a family trip ¨C never had a family to go on a trip with. Cally, Passi, and I could take the balloon into the mountains. Or find an island off the coast to claim as our own. We could build a summer home. We¡­ Milly wiped away an errant tear with a frustrated flick of her finger. Fuck. Can¡¯t I have one happy thought about Cally and Passi without tears? I¡¯m going to get home, and they¡¯re going to be there waiting for me ¨C safe and happy. Don¡¯t let yourself spiral. Coco gave a concerned bark as she felt Milly¡¯s turmoil and saw her flick away the tear. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Coco. Just¡­ missing home.¡± Milly smiled as she watched her friends, and a thought popped into her head. ¡°You know, Cally and I talked about kids, but we didn¡¯t talk about pets. Geeze, I hope she¡¯s a pet person.¡± Coco gave a little snort of indignation and Jinora, her cricket reduced to legs and a tiny bit of torso, twisted her head a hundred and eighty degrees and gazed at Milly incredulously. ¡°Sorry. Not pets. Friends. New friends,¡± Milly quickly corrected. Coco and Jinora looked at each other and nodded, before returning to watch the approaching island. Apparently, Milly¡¯s quick correction had been satisfactory. They¡¯d made better time than Milly had expected. At the end of their second day of travel ¨C her magic and the natural currents speeding them along ¨C they¡¯d reached the Isle of Gigantism. The forest canopy of the island pierced the clouds, and massive beasts soared through the sky and charged in packs through the forest. She spotted a tuna the size of the Dragon of Endless Shadows off the island¡¯s shore, and a crab on the beach the size of a fishing boat. As they approached, a flock of curious songbirds ¨C their feathers brilliant gold and green and each as large as their balloon ¨C had taken off, and the power of their wings had sent ripples of wind across the sky. As Milly had fought to stabilize their balloon, one of the songbirds had peeled off from the flock and flown by their basket. Jinora had hidden beneath Milly¡¯s hat as Coco barked in warning, but the bird, its curiosity sated, had simply flown by. Nevertheless, they¡¯d given the Isle of Gigantism a wide birth after that and continued along their way. From there, they¡¯d headed northwest, across the second patch of uncharted territory, straight towards Core Research Station. The undiscovered islands within this territory were more numerous, and Milly wondered why they had yet to be discovered. She got her answer in the middle of the night. It was Coco¡¯s warning bark that had woken her up, and the warning had nearly come too late. From the ocean below, a school of flying swordfish, each as large as Milly, erupted from the waves and headed straight for the ballon. Still half-held by the grogginess of sleep, Milly had leapt out of the basket and led them away from the balloon, lest they pierce its fabric and cause it to crash. Coco and Jinora watched helplessly as Milly dove straight towards the water, the hundred swordfish streaming after her. Her fire and lightning took down a few, but her air was entirely ineffective against them. She recalled Luna¡¯s advice ¨C that stronger monsters may have natural resistances to certain types of magic. Flying fish. Resistant to air. Makes sense. Let¡¯s see if they have the same resistance to my new water magic. She led them across the water, soaring mere feet above the waves. As the final one fell in behind her, she dipped her hand into the water and let her magic flow. Spears of ice ¨C ten feet high and sharp as knives ¨C shot out of the water in a trail behind her. Dozens, then hundreds, of spears ¨C a mile-long line of death in the darkness ¨C skewered the swordfish one-by-one. When Milly finally spared a glance back, she saw the carnage she had wrought. The school had been slaughtered, and she¡¯d expended less than a quarter of her magic to do so. She shivered at the power contained within her as she soared back to the balloon and landed gracefully on her tiptoes. The fight had given her another two levels, and she¡¯d added four more points to magic and elevated her fire magic to master-level. She¡¯d also received another ring called ¡°The Swordfish Folly¡±, which added five to her magic and granted her the beginner level ¡®Resist Air Magic¡¯ talent. That would have been helpful when I¡¯d fought Jinora. Better late than never, I suppose. Now¡­ let¡¯s see what this new fire magic can do. Milly flew away from the balloon and began to weave together her master-level air, fire, and water magic to see what would happen. Beginner magic gave me a single bolt. Advanced gave me a dozen. If that pattern stays true, then master level will¡­ She¡¯d spent the next hour apologizing to Jinora and Coco, who¡¯d been scared out of their wits by the massive thunderstorm that had appeared, Milly lodged at its epicenter. The storm had covered a square mile of sky and poured rain and lightning down upon the world in an endless torrent. It was expensive, and Milly had to use the remaining bit of her reserves to move the balloon out of its destructive path before it was torn apart by the gale-force winds. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The remainder of their journey went more smoothly, with Milly spending her waking hours learning to control the new power at her fingertips. Now, at the end of their fourth day of travel, with Milly¡¯s wind speeding them forward, they had their destination in sight. Core Research Station ¨C the heart of the Archipelago Research Alliance. Milly finished cooking her fish and, with it still skewered on the metal rod, she leaned over the basket with Coco and Jinora to stare out at the approaching island. She had no doubt this was their destination. At Research Station Omega, the golden threads of life that descended from the sky into the black orb had been faint ¨C barely visible even with Milly¡¯s enhanced perception. This was not the case with Core Research Station. The threads that streamed from the sky above this island looked like a river of gold that streamed down from the heavens. It shone like the sun, flowing into the massive black orb balanced in the palm of a twenty-story high statue in the middle of the city. Milly had to turn off her Detect Life talent lest the sight blind her. How many thousands ¨C tens of thousands ¨C Oriane souls are contained in that orb? How many lifetimes did Cizen spend collecting them all? ¡°I don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll find when we get to Core Research Station,¡± Milly said cautiously as she munched on the roasted mackerel. ¡°So stay close. We¡¯re just here to find a way home.¡± Only that¡¯s not true, is it? It can¡¯t be. I know you want to go home, Milly, but you are also Luna¡¯s Inquisitor. You need to find out what you can about Cizen¡¯s plan, or we may never survive this damned God Contest. Silence filled the balloon as they drifted ever closer, and Core Research Station came into view. * * * Milly gawked at the city that lay sprawled out below them. Situated at the center of the island ¨C a hundred miles long yet so narrow that it would take only thirty minutes to walk from shore to shore ¨C Core Research Station was anything but the utilitarian habitat that Research Station Omega had been. The city covered a quarter of the island. Ivory white buildings ¨C two or three stories high with rooftop garden patios and broad arched windows ¨C glistened as the evening sun beamed down upon them. The streets were a mosaic of perfectly fitted stones that depicted historical scenes, great beasts of the world, and important figures in Oriane society, as if the streets themselves were the Oriane art galleries. Market stalls and shops lined the streets, with small schools and community centers interspersed throughout the residential neighborhoods. At the center of the city was the statue holding aloft the black orb. It depicted a handsome young man, gaunt yet strong, wearing a flowing lab coat. His palm was raised to the sky and determined, piercing eyes gazed upon the city below. Milly had seen those eyes before, in Hephaestus¡¯ memory. The God of Death¡¯s body may have drastically changed ¨C his decayed flesh long since obliterated his youthful good looks ¨C but those eyes held the same determined fire. Bestian talked about Cizen as if he were a living legend. Was he really so well respected that they built this statue to honor him? Or is his ego so large he added it in when he reconstructed his world? Below the statue, Core Station Academy was situated on the highest hilltop, as if it were a fort constructed to overlook and protect the city. Hundreds upon hundreds of interconnected structures ¨C classrooms, laboratories, parks, and amphitheaters ¨C comprised the entirety of the complex. The centre of all knowledge in the Archipelago Research Alliance. Orianes wandered the city, though Milly could already tell it was only a small fraction of those who had once resided in the city. Their orb must have been activated. Was that intentional? Or did someone get here before I did? Or some god¡­ Jinora flashed her forelegs and pointed towards the northern shore, where a dozen other balloons had been tied up. A docking platform for those traveling between the islands. ¡°Thanks Jinora,¡± Milly praised, holding out her pinky finger. Jinora tapped it gently with her foreleg, their version of a high-five. Milly reached out with her magic and guided them into the natural current that flowed straight towards the platform. She didn¡¯t know what to expect when they landed, but she wanted to keep a low profile for as long as possible. Drifting in against the natural current would raise more than a few eyebrows. As they descended towards the platform, a small Oriane in bright orange overalls waved them towards one of the empty anchoring points in the middle of the platform. Milly guided them in, subtly using her magic for the fine maneuvers she couldn¡¯t achieve on her own, and tossed the line to the Oriane so he could tie them off. ¡°Where¡¯re you coming from, Miss¡­ oh!¡± The Oriane stopped and stared as Milly poked her head out over the basket. It was the same reaction the residents of Research Station Omega gave her when they¡¯d first seen her face. ¡°Research Station Omega,¡± Milly called down, not missing a beat. ¡°And before you ask, it was an experiment gone wrong.¡± Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with my face? God, if I don¡¯t see Cally soon and get some positive reinforcement, I¡¯m going to start getting self-conscious again like old Milly. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m¡­ sorry to hear that, Miss,¡± the Oriane said uncertainly. He looked towards his small work shack at the end of the platform. ¡°I might have a bag or something you can use¡­¡± Milly suppressed the urge to hurl the Oriane off the platform and into the ocean. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Milly said tartly, as she leapt out of the basket and tied off the second line. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, just don¡¯t look at me.¡± Milly turned to the Oriane, expecting an argument, only to see he¡¯d gone ghostly white, his eyes fixed on her Gown of Moon and Stars. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so sorry, Miss. I didn¡¯t realize you were¡­ were one of the scholars. Please, I beg you, don¡¯t report me. I¡¯ll take extra care of your balloon. I¡¯ll¡­¡± Milly looked down at her dress. This is Oracle¡¯s dress. A scholar ¨C one of the researchers. The upper class of the Orianes. Well, that should help clear out some obstacles. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not going to report you,¡± Milly assured the man, and Milly could see relief flood into him. Hydel and Geta were both right. It is a beautiful city ¨C the equal of any ancient city back home ¨C but there is a class divide between the researchers and everyone else. I can see it already. ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much, Miss. That is very generous of you. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask. My name is Platform Worker Veebee, and I will take the best care of your balloon while you are at Core Station Academy,¡± Veebee said, bowing to her. The bow made her feel uncomfortable, and she didn¡¯t know if she should bow back. She never got the chance. Veebee hurried over to the ropes and winched down the balloon until the basket was flush with the platform. He startled as Coco ¨C Jinora riding atop her head ¨C strode out of the basket¡¯s door and sauntered over to Milly. ¡°Do we just leave it here?¡± Milly asked Veebee, staring up at the statue several miles away. ¡°I just need your name, and how long you¡¯ll be here,¡± Veebee said, clutching his ledger tightly in his hands. ¡°Umm¡­ Milly Brown. And I¡¯m not sure¡­ a few days, maybe longer?¡± Milly said. How long does it take to unravel the ploys of the God of Death and find your way home? A few days¡­ Milly, when did you become an optimist? Veebee added the line to his ledger and dipped into a deep bow. ¡°Scholar Milly Brown, may I be the first to welcome you to Core Research Station!¡±
Mildred Persephone Brown Level: 44 Specialty: Survival Class: The Scarred Witch Sub-class: Her Inquisitor Strength: Base: 40 Enhanced: 62 (+ 4 from Collar of the Victor, +8 from Obsidian Fists, +10 from Harpy-Hunter Bracelet) Agility: Base: 26 Enhanced: 56 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +10 from Harpy-Hunter Bracelet, +5 from Ring of the Tortured Mantis) Toughness: Base: 50 Enhanced: 64 (+4 from Collar of the Victor, +10 from Ring of the Tortured Mantis) Magic: Base: 84 Enhanced: 114 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly''s First Witch''s Hat, +8 from Luna¡¯s Pendant of Guidance, +5 from Ring of Swordfish Folly) Talents: Elemental Magic - Fire (master), Earth (advanced), Water (master), Air (master) Healing Magic - Healer''s Touch (advanced), Regeneration (advanced), Healer¡¯s Aura (beginner) Psychic - Telekinesis (advanced) Necromancy ¨C Reanimate beast (beginner), Reanimate rodent (advanced) Spatial - Teleportation (advanced) Combat ¨C Hand-to-hand (advanced) Exploration ¨C Improved Perception (advanced), Detect Life (#error#) Sexual ¨C Enhance Performance (beginner) Unique Talent: Salem¡¯s Fury Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences Sub-Class Talents: Oracle¡¯s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible Equipment Benefits: Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch''s Hat) Oracle¡¯s Divination (beginner, Luna''s Pendant of Guidance) Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists) Improved Perception (beginner, Milly¡¯s Gothic Boots) See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design) Aerial Combat (beginner, Harpy-Hunter Bracelet) Resist Air Magic (beginner, Ring of Swordfish Folly)
Chapter 123 - Blending In ¡°The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.¡± Charlie Chaplin, English Actor ¡°It¡¯s¡­ um¡­ ten gold per night Scholar,¡± stuttered the innkeeper, unable to take her eyes off Milly¡¯s face. ¡°It includes a simple breakfast but¡­ I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯ve never had a Scholar stay here before. We¡¯re just a simple establishment, serving the maintenance workers and farmers. We don¡¯t have access to the luxuries you should be afforded. Are you certain you don¡¯t want to stay at of the inns at the Academy?¡± ¡°As long as Coco and Jinora can stay with me in the room, whatever you have will be fine,¡± Milly replied. She didn¡¯t understand why the woman seemed so concerned about the state of her inn. Except for its worn marble floor and the fractured shutter on the eastern window, the inn was pleasant. Certainly better than my apartment back home or the floor of a cubicle. And miles better than sleeping on the street. I¡¯m sure I could get better accommodations further into the city, but I want to keep a low profile. Besides¡­ I don¡¯t know, anything more is too much for me. I¡¯m really not comfortable with luxury. ¡°Your pets? I¡­ I guess so, scholar. What¡­ what are they?¡± She tore her gaze from Milly¡¯s face and glanced over at Coco and Jinora, who were exploring the empty tables in the inn¡¯s tavern. As far as Milly could tell, there were no other patrons at the inn. Though, if the black orb worked the same here as at Research Station Omega, one could pop into existence at any moment. ¡°My friends,¡± Milly corrected, and the innkeeper looked abashed. ¡°Friends. Of course, Scholar. Of course they can stay here. I wouldn¡¯t deny you anything. Do you friends need¡­ um¡­ beds or¡­¡± The innkeeper trailed off, having no clue what the creatures might require. The thin, mousey woman with thick glasses and a bright pink braid that grew to the small of her back flinched each time Milly grew close, as though Milly would bite. ¡°We¡¯ll make do with what¡¯s in the room,¡± Milly said chipperly, trying to set the woman at ease. ¡°You have a lovely place here. Do you run it by yourself?¡± ¡°I¡­ my mate and our two sons¡­ they run it with me. They¡¯re just¡­¡± The woman hesitated, not knowing how to finish her sentence. Her family haven¡¯t appeared yet, and Cizen¡¯s orb shields that knowledge from her. But whatever Cizen did to manipulate their memories requires a few seconds to adjust when they realize something is wrong. ¡°My mate and my sons are visiting family,¡± the woman finally answered, as the conflict resolved itself in her mind. ¡°I¡¯m working here alone until they get back.¡± ¡°At least it isn¡¯t that busy,¡± Milly said, looking at the empty tables. ¡°Easier to manage alone.¡± ¡°It¡­ should be busier than this¡­¡± the innkeeper trailed off, another conflict forming in her head. ¡°The maintenance workers usually fill my tavern after their shift¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be here soon,¡± Milly said quickly, trying to divert the conversation. If I keep pointing out the errors in her world, I¡¯m going to give this poor woman an aneurysm. ¡°Yes¡­ that sounds right,¡± the innkeeper agreed, though she didn¡¯t sound completely convinced. ¡°I¡¯m Milly,¡± Milly said abruptly, before the innkeeper¡¯s mind drifted again. ¡°Could you show us to our room. We¡¯ve had a long trip.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ oh! Yes, Scholar Milly. Yes, of course I can,¡± the innkeeper said, embarrassed. ¡°Right this way.¡± She led them up the marble stairs and down the narrow hallway to the room at the end. The innkeeper handed Milly a key. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a pretty basic room. I hope you aren¡¯t disappointed,¡± the innkeeper said as she opened the door and led them inside. The room was not what Milly expected. The four-post bed was easily twice the size of any she had seen before, able to easily accommodate an Oriane even larger than Apoi. The mattress looked soft, and it was covered with colorful, fluffy blankets and pillows. There was an old hardwood desk in the corner, alongside matching dressers and end tables. An archway led to a small balcony that overlooked the sunset-lit ocean waters, and twin arched windows, their shutters thrown open, filled the room with a pleasant evening breeze. Across from the bed was an ensuite bathroom, complete with a bathtub with its own view of the ocean. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s beautiful,¡± Milly breathed with astonishment. It was the most luxurious bedroom she¡¯d ever seen. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special,¡± the innkeeper said, pulling her pink braid nervously. ¡°It pales in comparison to the inns at the Academy, or those in the academic district. The breeze sometimes smells like fish, and my son was supposed to give it another coat of paint and¡­ are you sure you wouldn¡¯t prefer to stay in a place more suited to someone of your caliber?¡± Milly shook her head, taking it all in. Coco waddled past her and climbed up onto the bed, bouncing playfully in the blankets. Jinora flew over to the balcony and stared out at the ocean with a sense of contentment. ¡°It¡¯ll do just fine,¡± Milly whispered gratefully. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°I¡­ alright,¡± the innkeeper said softly, deciding not to argue any further with her special guest. ¡°My name is Citron. If you need anything ¨C anything at all ¨C I¡¯ll be downstairs.¡± ¡°Thanks Citron,¡± Milly said as the woman tentatively closed the door behind her and fled down the hall with a tiny squeak. ¡°I guess Geta and Apoi were right about the class rift in this city. I hadn¡¯t expected it to be so pronounced.¡± But that divide is not your concern, Milly. They think you are a scholar, so use that to your advantage. Milly headed out to the balcony and leaned against the rail next to Jinora. They faced east, towards the balloon platform and the street of merchants that ran in front of the inn. A tall, orange-haired Oriane glanced up at her from the street below and Milly waved. The man, startled at her appearance, practically ran down the road until he was out of sight. Okay¡­ maybe I need to do something to hide my face. I can¡¯t keep a low profile if I freak everyone out. There¡¯s an illusion talent web, but the magic seems like such a waste of a talent point. Besides, I¡¯d need to level up again, and I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s anything to fight on this island. There must be an easier way. Her eyes fell on the tailor across the street, its elderly owner occupied pulling the racks of clothing inside her store before she closed for the day. Despite passing a dozen shops between the balloon platform and the Waterside Inn, the tailor was the only shop actually in operation. ¡°Stay here you two,¡± Milly said. ¡°I¡¯m going to pop across the street.¡± Milly thought they might protest, but Coco simply gave her a content little bark from her spot on the bed and Jinora waved a dismissive foreleg at her. Apparently neither one was in a hurry to leave the luxury they¡¯d stumbled into. With a quick glance down the street to make sure no one was watching, Milly vaulted over the balcony and landed on the street below, ready to shop. * * * ¡°My dear, you aren¡¯t the first scholar who¡¯d had to hide the unfortunate results of her experiments,¡± Edna, the tailor, said in a motherly tone. ¡°I designed an entire new wardrobe for one woman who¡¯d burned off her left arm and breast. Now that was a challenge.¡± Edna was a touch shorter than Milly, with short white hair cut into a bob and deep wrinkles under her eyes. She circled methodically around Milly, studying her gown, witch¡¯s hat, gothic boots and myriad of mismatched accessories. She gave a slight tsk of disapproval when she saw Milly¡¯s Collar of the Victor ¨C the centipede shaped collar she¡¯d received from defeating The Crushing Wave. ¡°You¡¯re a bit of a fashion disaster, aren¡¯t you?¡± Milly didn¡¯t know how to explain her wardrobe. She missed her simple black hoodie. There were no fashion choices in her old life. Just the black hoodie, its bagginess expertly covering her many imperfections. She felt Edna¡¯s finger trace across the back of her gown where it¡¯d been ripped open by the harpy. It had been quickly repaired at Research Station Omega, but the threads were already coming loose. ¡°This won¡¯t do at all. I won¡¯t have you leaving here looking like some misused ragdoll. Take it off. I¡¯ll fix it while we figure out how to hide your face.¡± ¡°I¡­ what?¡± Milly stammered, staring at the old Oriane. She sounded like a grandmother who was used to getting her way. ¡°Your dress. Off with it. Don¡¯t be so shy, dear. I¡¯ve got seven daughters and thirteen granddaughters. You haven¡¯t got anything I haven¡¯t seen before,¡± Edna said dismissively, already grabbing her sewing materials from her workbench. Milly glanced around the tiny shop. Between the racks of clothes and piles of fabric lining the walls, there was hardly room to stand. There was no change room, but Edna, impatiently, slid a curtain across the entrance of her shop for privacy. Milly removed her boots and slipped the gown off her shoulders and down her chest, feeling exposed. She flushed as she slipped the gown over her ankles, until she was standing there in nothing but her ratty, well-worn black bra and panties. They were the same ones she¡¯d worn when they¡¯d arrived in the God Contest, and they had been old even then. Edna gently snatched the gown from Milly¡¯s hands and gave another disapproving tsk at the state of Milly¡¯s undergarments. ¡°Do you have a mate, deary?¡± she asked casually, pulling out sewing tape to take Milly¡¯s measurements. ¡°Y¡­ yes,¡± Milly stuttered. ¡°Her name is Cally. I haven¡¯t¡­ seen her for a while.¡± ¡°Pretty girl?¡± ¡°The most beautiful woman in the world,¡± Milly said without hesitation. ¡°Well, Scholar Milly, your undergarments are one passionate coupling away from disintegrating in your lover¡¯s hand. I know you researchers can neglect self-care, but this just won¡¯t do. We¡¯ll need to pick out new undergarments as well.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Milly began to protest, but the woman held up a stern finger. ¡°No buts,¡± Edna scolded, as she continued to circle around Milly¡¯s body. Edna counted under her breath as she poked a finger at Milly¡¯s growing collection of scars. The patchwork of burns that covered her arm, the price of her victory over Red Fang. The eight tiny scars across the tips of her fingers from desperately holding on to the Dragon of Endless Shadows scales. The cut across her back from shoulder to hip, from her fight with the harpy ¨C the same one that had torn her gown. And the twin scars across her wrists ¨C the constant reminder of her lowest point in life ¨C earned long before the God Contest. The Scarred Witch. How many more scars will I have by the time this is all over? ¡°Life hasn¡¯t been easy on you, has it?¡± Edna asked sympathetically, then poked her belly. ¡°What¡¯s this one?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ my belly button,¡± Milly said awkwardly. ¡°And these dark spots?¡± ¡°My moles,¡± Milly replied. She¡¯d almost forgotten that the Orianes were a different species, with bodies just this side of flawless. Milly hoped Edna wasn¡¯t growing suspicious. ¡°More deformities from your research?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ sort of. I joined up with the Explorers of the Archipelago last year,¡± Milly said, hoping the lie would be enough. Bestian had told her of his days with the Explorers. While those who discovered new islands were celebrated as heroes, far more ended up disfigured or dead. It was a dangerous profession ¨C one clouded in mystery as the Explorers were known to keep their secrets close to their chests. Which made it was the perfect cover story for Milly. Edna gazed up at her with a look of disappointment. ¡°You joined those madmen when you have a mate waiting for you back home? You ought to appreciate the treasures you have at your fingertips, rather than chasing after a fool¡¯s dream of adventure and fame.¡± That¡¯s all I want ¨C to return to my treasures back home. If I could leave the danger behind, I¡¯d do it in a heartbeat. But I can¡¯t, can I? None of us can. Edna finished her measurements and clicked her teeth as she considered Milly¡¯s problem. ¡°Very well. I think a thin veil sewed into the rim of your hat will hide your facial disfigurement well enough. Such veils are popular with young women your age to keep off the sun, so you won¡¯t look out of place. Head over to that shelf and pick out a color of fabric while I repair your dress. Once you¡¯ve done that, look through the second drawer of that dresser over there for undergarments. And I implore you, stay away from anything as plain and boring as all this.¡± Edna gestured to Milly¡¯s current state of dress, and Milly felt embarrassed. ¡°Find something sensual for your lover. Trust me. My mate and I were together for fifty years before he passed, and a good set of seducing garments will keep that heat alive.¡± Milly laughed at the grandmother¡¯s cheekiness and decided to follow her advice. She headed over to the fabric shelf while Edna sat at her workbench to repair the gown. Something to seduce Cally? Why not?