by John Gold
The conversation gradually draws to a close, and we keep moving.
One surprising feature about the islands in the astral is how you can teleport to and from them. Each island has one way in and lots of ways out, and their size depends on the stream of mana coming in.
We leave the island along one of the channels mana uses to enter, and my magic vision shows me a new eddy that drops us in the open sea. We find ourselves to the north of Tanatos in the River of Life. But that’s no good, and so I open another portal and take us back to the island so we can find a different way. The next one is a portal to a spot to the northeast of Tanatos, still in the River of Life. Four tries later, we’re south of Tanatos, a day’s journey away from Clover.
Femida lost her lord sandals and armor in her first escape from prison. I don’t feel like carrying her, so I have to keep her covered with a spell for walking on water until we get there. She still hasn’t picked a class, and the only battle technique she had was the dissection her blood knight armor gave her.
“What class are you looking to get? Oh, and what’s your level?”
“957. I want to be a master swordsman specializing in longsword fighting. If I were to be a blood knight, I’d have to be with you all the time.”
“Good choice. When we’re done with the clinic, we’ll have to go back to Kkhor. There’s a shop that’s all set to start working on your sword, and you’ll be able to pick it up as soon as I work there for a week.”
Femida laughs so hard she almost chokes. We’re already running across the inner waters of the River of Life, constantly attacked by high-level monsters we’re able to hide or run from pretty easily. In her laughter, however, Femida trips and crashes down on the water. Just then, the shadow of a flying whale creeps over us, followed a second later by razor-sharp pieces of ice raining down. I’m forced to cover her with a magic shield until she can get a grip on herself.
“The whole world is looking for you, including all the gods and the Hunter clans. But you’re over here just talking about how you’re going to up and work at a shop in one of the world’s most highly populated capitals. Why can’t you just buy the sword?”
“It’s a mind weapon bound with blood. I don’t have money, and nobody’s going to find me.”
Femida logs out of the game for a day near the clinic dome. If everything goes well, I’m going to send her a message in the real world so we can meet there.
***
After dying in Project Chrysalis, players could go to sleep or use the capsule interface to jump over onto the infonet.
Kirk just waited there in the dark, glancing at the clock telling him how soon he could respawn. The thought that he’d helped Bloody Sagie find Femida gnawed at him.
Sagie’s name was used to scare disobedient children. He was a symbol of destruction, devastation, and antisocial behavior, a champion of the dark powers. Some people even doubted his very existence. There were theories that he’d been a stooge placed there by Lunar, and that his character had been deleted after the battle for Castle Airis. His level and skills were thought to be beyond the scope of the imagination; he was said to eat raw meat and drink blood for breakfast like a super-mage. Kirk, however, had lived with him for more than a month, and had seen nothing but an ordinary guy. Sure, he was overly serious, but he was still far more ordinary than the monster the media and news sites made him out to be.
Still, all that paled in comparison to the depth of Sagie’s betrayal. He had coldly exploited Kirk’s trust, hiding his name and coercing Kirk into helping him completely modify his mental body.
Lira, the blonde angel, was Kirk’s first love. She was the first and only person to fall in love with him, and not his money. Her blue eyes, her long, golden hair, her marvelous laughter, her gentleness, her life… Sagie had taken all of it.
A minute later, Kirk sent a message to the Golden Hand.
I know the exact location of Bloody Sagie, his level, his class, his body modification, and what he’s been doing over the past month.
Ten minutes and five officials later, he was talking with Leon in a personal virtual room. Kirk told the god everything he knew about Sagie and his battle skills. He showed the video he’d taken next to the prison. Afterward, Leon fell silent for almost a minute. It wasn’t a hesitation or just a pause; it was horror. Leon got the message Sagie sent him. He remembered the promise.
It was only when St. Rachel walked into the room that Leon started talking—she looked him in the eye and told him to snap out of it with a firm voice. There were two of the people Sagie had addressed right there in the room, and, judging by their reactions, they knew both Sagie and the promise he’d mentioned. Suddenly, doubt and questions he didn’t voice crept into his head. A small, barely noticeable spark of suspicion awoke in his soul, though it was doused in a wave of righteous rage.
Two more people showed up. First, there was Nate, the head of Leon’s security. He was followed by Merlen, the number-two man in the Golden Hand. Nate was like Leon’s shadow in real life and virtual reality both, and he moved like a professional killer. Even though everyone knew where he was standing, it still felt like he wasn’t there. He was wearing the modest outfit of a city slicker copied from his Project Chrysalis character, with hair pulled back in a pony tail, and wearing small glasses with thick black frames. He looked anything but the terrifying assassin everyone in Project Chrysalis thought of him as.
Everybody there watched the recording one more time before going their separate ways. Nate was the last to leave, and he turned before he went.
“The Golden Hand clan expresses its deep gratitude and would like you to join us. If you accept our invitation, you’ll start off by working with me on…delicate projects as a trusted partner. Come to Airis Castle and find me.”
“Thanks. I’ll think about it.”
Revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge. Kirk remembered the last day at the old Airis Castle in the tiniest detail. He remembered feeling Lira’s senseless body in his arms. He remembered the blood and dirt caked in her hair. He remembered the pendant that he’d taken to wear around his own neck, one he’d given her for their engagement. The pain building up in him all that time exploded. Sagie… He was nearby, he was there, and he was mortal.
For the first time in half a year, Kirk knew exactly what he wanted to do. That thought, that desire, filled his consciousness. Kirk had decided to kill.
***
Eliza Donovan was perplexed. She’d just had a conversation with Supervisor Vaalsie, her old acquaintance thanks to the Angie Ganet deal. Station security had just visited him with questions about their ward, as well. They’d also been followed by six more people asking about the same boy.
Two months prior, Eliza had submitted a request to review the details of Angie Ganet’s death at the private orphanage in the resort city of Arpa five years before. She’d heard nothing since then. The city’s ArtIn told her that everything had been checked and rechecked—the boy died of complications he’d suffered from his stroke three days after the incident. The cause of the stroke had been his accelerated development syndrome and the boy’s psychological exhaustion. That had been it. But suddenly, people were lining up to ask questions about him. She’d turned down the first ones, alluding to doctor-patient confidentiality, but the security people invoked the right to disclose information after the death of the patient.
Vaalsie had mentioned that he knew the boy, selling confidential information for a separate fee. Then, he contacted Eliza to see if she’d be interested in a share if they sold the information she had, too. She had a hard time not laughing at the old scoundrel.
What Eliza knew about Angie Ganet stayed a medical secret, even from her. The mystery intrigued her—she wanted to find out more. He was a genius who had refused recognition; a child who had gone to work while the rest of the kids still hadn’t even thought about what they wanted to be when they grew up. His knowledge far exceeded normal adolescent interests. Then, there
was his ability to quickly learn new things. Even the last conversation they’d had and his knowledge of his transfer to an orphanage in a different colony was an enigma for Eliza. His urge to protect those closest to him at such a young age was impressive, too. Angie had been through hell, both in real life and in the game, and he’d still done his best to take care of the people he loved to the very end. The possibility of his bogus death just represented one more secret swirling around him.
Interesting patients are what doctors live for when they love what they do. And so, Eliza had to figure that there was one person who knew more about Sagie than she did.
“Moro, put me in touch with Mrs. Full, Angie Ganet’s old psychologist, and set up a meeting. Whenever is best for her. Let her know that nothing is covered by doctor-patient confidentiality, as the patient died five years ago.”
“Miss Donovan, that’s a manipulation of the facts. Actually, it’s a lie if Ganet is alive.”
“Exactly—if he’s alive. And for now, that’s just an act of faith. There are no laws being broken, no confidentiality being betrayed.”
Moro found Mrs. Full, though it took a little time to set up the meeting.
“Miss Donovan, Mrs. Full is prepared to meet with you in eleven days. As soon as she finishes up her research and gets back to the station, she’ll be available whenever you want to see her.”
“Thanks, Moro. You’re a doll.” Eliza’s spirits lifted significantly.
***
Femida logged out of the game and pulled herself out of her med capsule. She’d been in there for seventy hours. Her mother was sitting next to her, her happy face betraying that she knew something.
The latter put her book down and started with a direct question.
“Well, are congratulations in order now that your chosen one is back?”
“So, you already know everything?”
“Baby, the whole world knows that Bloody Sagie is back! A couple of hours ago, they started a new talk show looking at life in Airis Castle. The producer’s hinting that they’re waiting for Sagie to come kill Leon, and people are already betting on when the battle for Airis Castle will start. Just let me know who to bet on, and what date, okay?”
“Mama!”
“Mama what? I’m a person, too! And I’m really happy he’s back.”
Off she headed toward the kitchen to make a late dinner for her daughter. Fiji jumped in the shower before joining her to hear what was going on in the real world.
“Fiji, you should hear some of the theories going around about your escape. From the looks of it, you two just disappeared into the darkness of the mine, with some people talking about a black spot and demons. They’re saying only Femida died—she fell to her death, while Sagie got away. Then, that puppet was issued an official acquittal for what happened five years ago, so she’ll be getting compensation.” Fiji’s mother put a plate down in front of her. “So, where did you go? How’s your Sagie? Tell me everything!”
“Five years in a coma, half a year out of his mind, brain damage. If there were just a quarter of him that was a normal person, he wouldn’t have recovered.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He went through Hell at the age of twelve, without the ability to level-up. As a reward, he got the ability to amplify his body as well as eleven streams of consciousness. He uses the latter in real life.”
“How? How did he get there?”
“He was sacrificed for someone to get the god class. After that, he picked up a demon visage and those streams of consciousness. Mom, he made two kinds of activated weapons and senses the keeper! The keeper, mom! The keeper has his eye on him! And I’m not even going to go into the scalable items he made. Now, he can even use a unique space teleport spell to hide in the astral.”
“What about Isaac? Your new chosen one?”
Fiji rolled her eyes. That had been a constant topic over the previous three years, as if there was nothing else to talk about.
“He’s never made a claim on me—he doesn’t care whose armor he is, just so long as it’s fun. He doesn’t like talking, so he just watches and once in a while expresses interest. While we were walking through the astral, he asked me so many questions, I thought his brain was going to explode. He’s fascinated by Sagie, who he is, what he’s done, the way he thinks, his clothes. I feel like I’m wearing a monomaniac who’s fixed on Sagie. Oh, and he’s afraid of asking questions himself, so I have to ask them all. Mom, why do I get all the crazies?”
Her mom laughed until she cried.
“Because there aren’t any normal people capable of being an equal partner for you. You’ll always find people with a better chance at success when you look around at your equals, plus… Well, you know very well. You’re just going to have to deal with that ability for now.”
Fiji lazily stirred her soup made with natural ingredients. It was a luxury, but this was a celebration.
“Mom, Sagie scares me. He feels more than he should, and the future is becoming too uncertain.”
“Hang in there a little while longer. Sagie will get you to Tanatos.”
***
Gwen Padmont picked the swordsman class, looking to test her skill in close combat. Her fiery personality was an excellent fit for a meaner style with plenty of dirty tricks to fall back on. And that was how Femida the marauder appeared in the world. Robbery and assault were how she had her fun, followed by an invitation to the guild of killers and her arrest for multiple crimes.
That was Femida, Bloody Sagie’s helper and the star of Valhalla. But right now, she was sitting in her room in the creativity building, unsure of what to do. She didn’t care about the reaction of the other prisoners or the threats they might level at her. But Hisan… She wasn’t sure what he would think or do. She’d been lying to him the whole time, after all.
Gwen didn’t twitch when there was a knock at her door. She wasn’t ready to look Hisan in the eye. All she felt was shame for deceiving him, for all the tender words, all the attention he’d showered on her…attention she didn’t deserve.
He appeared in the middle of the room in a column of light, defying the prison’s antiportal field.
“Hisan, I wanted to tell you so long ago. I…”
“Silly… Do you really think I didn’t know? I love you, Femida! You’re my quiet, gentle angel, my tender flower in this hell. My sweet, my happiness, my joy. You’re charming, honest, kind, open, strong, and so attractive.” Hisan got down on one knee next to the bed Gwen was sitting on. “You’re the person, you’re the girl I fell in love with. And I don’t care that you don’t know that Sagie. I love your heartfelt warmth, the way you want to help lost souls, your open heart, how you love your work. I love you, Femida, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
Gwen buried herself in the chest of the diamond in the rough that always knew everything. He knew her secrets, her feelings, and everything she tried to hide. He knew Gwen and who she was. He knew the truth, and he loved her just the way she was. He accepted her, warts and all, wanting her exactly like that.
Tears of joy, relief, and happiness poured from her eyes as he stroked her head and whispered sweet nothings in her ear. He was practically woven from threads of tenderness, shedding a warm calm over her. Gwen had found the happiness she’d dreamed of those five long years.
Hisan Redish, senior prison supervisor at Alcatraz, had known Figiraldina Elmaro, the real Femida, since she was in diapers. He was a good friend of her father, Thor Elmaro, representative of the department that developed strategic plans for the colonies in states neighboring Lunar. In fact, Hisan worked for that same department on a freelance basis.
But nothing that happened in this room had anything to do with his job.
***
A tropical storm thunders its way over the clinic, scattering refreshing rain over the islands. Like tears of nature, each drop trickles off the green leaves of the trees. Clover’s archipelago is bathed in the light of the setting s
un, appearing from afar as a mountain of glistening treasure in the middle of the ocean. The islands breathe with life, their leafy green rippling in the warm wind.
With my advanced perception, I see the world in new colors. The water is alive, and I can even see where the air is flowing. Light and dark have become more defined and palpable. After leaving the astral, especially, I can see new facets of the world that I didn’t notice before.
The protective bubble enclosing the island lets me in, identifying me by the clothes I’m wearing. Femida already logged out of the game after taking her armor off. Isaac said he’s going to sleep until Fem gives him a call.
Isaac is a patient at a psychiatric clinic, though his pathology lets him head out into society without need for isolation or monitoring. He has a fine intellect and an almost complete lack of personal will.
He won’t drown when he logs back in?
Without anyone inside the armor, he has partial immunity to electricity, he ignores all poison, and he takes additional fire and mental damage. He doesn’t need air. Instead, he has a corrosion attribute, giving him a debuff that cuts his strength and health when it gets high enough.
Got it. Just remember that you take continuous physical damage down there.
After Femida logged out, I stepped into the dome.
The clinic building is in front of me on the archipelago’s main island. It’s blue, three stories high, and more reminiscent of a health resort. In fact, there really are beaches, a sunshade over the café, and a large balcony on the second story. The doctors must like working here.
With stealth activated, I start sneaking across the well-manicured lawns, getting to the building to find that none of the doors are locked. I find the room with the portal as well as the storeroom. They won’t notice if two patient uniforms go missing, will they? Just in case they search me before letting me go, I bury them in the sand.
